About Know Your Beer

What is Know Your Beer?

Know Your Beer is a Europe-wide consumer education campaign that helps people understand beer labels, make informed choices, and know their rights when buying beer in shops or ordering in bars and restaurants.

The campaign is developed and maintained by EBCU (European Beer Consumers Union), a federation of independent consumer organisations across Europe dedicated to promoting beer culture and protecting consumer interests.

Why this campaign?

Beer labels can be confusing. While they're technically correct, the information isn't always easy to interpret. Terms like "brewed for", "distributed by", and "produced in" can obscure important details about who actually made your beer and where.

Unlike wine, beer is currently exempt from mandatory ingredient and nutrition labelling under EU food law. The brewing industry has voluntarily committed to providing this information, and by 2022, 95% of beer volumes in bottles and cans included ingredients lists. This campaign helps consumers understand what information is available, where to find it, and what it means.

Supporting EU consumer goals

Know Your Beer aligns with the European Union's commitment to consumer empowerment. The EU Consumer Agenda 2030, adopted in November 2025, establishes a five-year framework for consumer policy focused on:

• Completing the single market and improving cross-border access
• Ensuring digital fairness and protecting consumers online
• Promoting sustainable consumption and combating greenwashing
• Strengthening enforcement and product safety

While the agenda doesn't specifically mandate changes to beer labelling, it supports the principle that informed consumers make better choices. EBCU participates in the broader European consumer protection dialogue, including through the annual European Consumer Summit.