About us
EBCU is a non-political, non-religious organisation formed in May 1990 by the national beer consumer in Bruges, Belgium, by three national beer organisations: CAMRA (United Kingdom), Objectieve Bierproevers (Belgium, now Zythos) and PINT (Netherlands), to give voice to the beer consumer at the European level, both within and beyond the European Union (EU).

THE CREATION
In 2008, the member organisations signed up to a constitution which defined the formal aims and structure and the role of traditional beer as a prime component of European culture, history and daily life.
In 2018, Bo Jensen replaced Henri Reuchlin as chairman of EBCU.
OUR MISSION
The union campaigns on European level to:
- To preserve and maintain the diversity of the traditional European beer cultures, with particular regard to local, regional and national brewing and beer styles
- To protect the consumer from the imposition of unfair pricing by opposing unreasonable taxation or exploitative business practices
- To ensure that the consumer receives the best factual information about any beer on commercial sale
EBCU will take whatever steps as necessary, including lobbying, advertising, publishing or other campaigning methods, to gain the widest possible support for these Aims and Objectives.
Please check our Manifesto for more information.
EBCU has now expanded to include 18 like-minded national groups from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland. See them all here.
News
Open Letter to Commissioner Glenn Micallef: On the cultural and economic value of home brewing in Europe
Home brewing has preserved some of Europe’s most treasured beer traditions and launched many of its best-known craft breweries, yet it now faces growing regulatory pressure. EBCU’s open letter asks Commissioner Glenn Micallef to recognise it as living cultural heritage in the EU’s forthcoming Culture Compass for Europe.
Home brewers under pressure: why EBCU is concerned
Across Europe, home brewers are facing growing pressure from tax authorities. EBCU is calling on the European Commission and member states to recognise home brewing for what it is: a cultural and educational activity, not a tax problem.
