Poles blast broad new EU vodka definition

(WARSAW) - Poles on Wednesday blasted a decision by EU lawmakers to approve a definition of vodka that has affronted traditionalists who claim it could let pale imitations of the real thing invade the market.

"A defeat for our age-old tradition," "The vodka battle is lost," "The vodka's down the drain," and "Get ready for banana vodka" were among the banner headlines in Poland's leading newspapers following the European Parliament's vote Tuesday.

MEPs backed a proposed definition of vodka that says the spirit must be made from grains or potatoes.

However, to the horror of traditionalists, vodka could also be made from other ingredients such as sugar beet, apples and raisins as long as bottles were properly labelled, according to the text.

Polish lawmaker Ryszard Czarnecki slammed the move, asking: "Would the French agree to call a drink made from plums champagne, or the British to let a peach spirit have the name whisky?"

The Polish media also slammed Agriculture Minister Andrzej Lepper for his allegedly slapdash lobbying within the EU in favour of traditional vodka.

Purists from the EU's so-called vodka belt -- stretching in a loop around the Baltic Sea from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia through Finland, Sweden and Denmark -- had wanted a tight definition that would only cover spirits made from grain, potatoes or molasses.

The traditionalists, who account for 70 percent of production and 65 percent of consumption in the 27-nation EU, argued that vodka should be protected by a narrow definition just like whisky and rum.

However, other countries, keen to tap into the 12-billion-dollar (nine-billion-euro) global vodka trade, wanted a looser definition including spirits made from other ingredients.

Vodka can be made from any agricultural product that ferments after it is distilled into alcohol and water is added.