Aperol

How ethical is Aperol?

Aperol is a spirits brand which has fallen below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Spirits Ratings Table. Aperol’s below-benchmark performance is driven by a poor rating for public record criticisms arising from the conduct of its parent company, Lagfin S.C.A., and a poor rating for organic ingredients.

What does Aperol do?

Aperol is an Italian orange aperitif liqueur created in 1919 in Padua and now owned by Campari Group, one of the world’s largest premium spirits companies. Aperol is Campari Group’s largest brand and is sold across more than 190 countries, best known for its role in the Aperol Spritz. Campari Group is controlled by Lagfin S.C.A., a Luxembourg-based holding company connected to the Garavoglia family, which holds the majority of Campari’s voting rights.

Why does Aperol fall below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark?

Aperol’s below-benchmark performance is driven by two poor ratings. The poor rating for public record criticisms is the most significant. In October 2025, Italian tax police seized approximately €1.29 billion in assets from Lagfin following a tax fraud investigation, and the company subsequently reached a settlement with the Italian Revenue Agency requiring a payment of €405 million over four years. This represents a significant and documented public record concern that The GOOD Shopping Guide cannot overlook.

Aperol also receives a poor rating for organic ingredients. The brand’s formulations do not meet certified organic standards. Aperol’s ratings for genetic modification, packaging, and vegetarian and vegan verification are all acceptable rather than good, indicating further room for improvement across these criteria.

Aperol does achieve good ratings for environmental reporting, fossil fuels, animal welfare, armaments, irresponsible marketing, and political donations. These reflect solid ethical conduct across several criteria. However, the public record criticisms poor rating arising from Lagfin’s tax fraud investigation means that Aperol falls below the benchmark required by The GOOD Shopping Guide.

Consumers seeking spirits brands that meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark are encouraged to consult our Ethical Spirits Ratings Table and our guide to ethical spirits, and seek out brands that hold The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. Our how we rate page explains the criteria used to assess all brands in this sector.