News
New Call for a Comprehensive EU Alcohol Strategy
Eurocare
is launching a new Call for a Comprehensive Alcohol Policy Strategy in the
European Union in connection with the 6th
European Alcohol Policy Conference (6EAPC), which will take place in Brussels on 27th and
28th November 2014.
The (6EAPC)
conference will bring together a broad representation of stakeholders concerned
with alcohol related-harm (policy and decision makers, scientists, alcohol and
health experts) in order to strengthen networks, build capacity and stimulate
action to prevent and reduce alcohol-related problems at all levels.
The
current EU Alcohol Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol
related harm was designed expired in 2012. The absence of a renewed EU Alcohol
Strategy poses a real threat to maintaining and building on the progress made
to reduce alcohol related harm in Europe.
With
the new European political leadership taking their offices, Eurocare is hoping
that a strong and united voice of concerned stakeholders will ensure continuation
of work towards improving the health of European citizens, as well as creating
future health system savings through prevention of alcohol related harm.
The
main Eurocare recommendations for the future EU Alcohol Strategy include:
- Population-level policy
instruments, such as taxation and action on physical availability
- Targeted policies such as
minimum unit pricing, which has a greater impact on hazardous and harmful
drinkers and contributes to reducing health inequalities.
- Effective restrictions on
alcohol marketing and advertising
- Consumer information
including the provision of nutritional and other health related
information on alcoholic beverage labels
- Reduction in
drink-driving
- Health sector responses
for early detection, brief interventions and treatment for alcohol use
disorders
- Strategies that alter
drinking contexts, backed up by community-based prevention action
- Evidence-based public
awareness communication and school-based education to help reduce risks
and harm from alcohol
- Prevention with special
focus on the workplace
- Research, better
monitoring of trends in alcohol consumption and harms and further
development of the common evidence base
Please
click here for the full text of the Call for a Comprehensive Alcohol Policy Strategy in the
European Union.