Friday 23rd May 2008

WHO Global Alcohol Strategy on the way

At the 61st World Health Assembly on Thursday, 22 May 2008 delegates to Committee A approved a draft resolution calling upon WHO to produce a global strategy aimed at reducing the harmful use of alcohol. The resolution called upon WHO to present the global strategy to the World Health Assembly in 2010. Alcohol is the fifth leading risk factor for death and disability in the world and many Member States showed deep concern about the magnitude and complexity of alcohol related harm world wide and emphasized an urgent need for action to reduce harmful use of alcohol. With the goal of approving a resolution to reach consensus, amendments to the text were withdrawn and an agreement of the text was reached after a series of supportive comments. The resolution will now go before the full plenary for final approval.