Editorial
World Trade and youth drinking - a global concern
A previous editorial observed that alcohol reaches all parts of the globe and that no part remains immune from the problems associated with intoxication and dependence.
Global concern about the problem grows. We have previously highlighted the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution of May 2005 and that of the American Medical Association, which we are pleased to report, was adopted at the World Medical Association’s meeting in October in Santiago.
In this issue we highlight the WHO Europe Framework on Alcohol Policy and the first WHO Pan American Conference on Alcohol Policy in Brasilia. The European Union’s DG SANCO is in the midst of preparing an alcohol strategy with particular concern over the problems associated with the levels of youth drinking.
European nongovernmental organisations have, for some time, not only seen the need to work at community and national level but also at regional. EUOCARE continues to broaden its network. A similar development is beginning to take place in the Asia Pacific region under the aegis of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance.
From the various reports in this edition, whether it be from Europe, the Americas, Asia or the Pacific Islands, two common concerns stand out: the impact of globalisation and youth drinking.
The alcohol industry, due to globalisation, the liberalisation of trade and the consolidation of companies, has increased its influence on governments to promote industry friendly policies to the detriment of public health. So much so that Michelle Swenarchuk urges health officials (page 29) to be involved in the formulation of trade policy to achieve some balance between the demands of trade and health in order to prevent the undermining of alcohol control policies. The European Framework document confirms such advice in stating: ”the ability of governments had been substantially weakened to use some of the most effective tools to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm due to the growth of trade agreements”.(page 5)
Young people’s drinking occurs at an earlier age than previous generations and its consequences are seen in accidents, anti- social behaviour, hospital admissions, health damage and dependence. There is denial by the alcohol and advertising industry that young people are a prime target of advertisements or that advertising has an impact on consumption. Recent evidence from an extensive longitudinal study challenges such a view. The study finds that young people exposed to more alcohol advertisements tend to drink more alcohol. As David Jernigan comments on the study: “The fact that young people…were more likely to drink more over time in environments with alcohol advertising, even when controlling for alcohol sales in those environments, suggests that it is exposure to alcohol advertising that contributes to the drinking rather than the reverse.”
The message to governments from this study is quite clear: if politicians are serious about tackling youth drinking then restrictions on advertising (and sponsorship see Robert Sparks page 29) need to be implemented.
As far back as the WHO Conference in 2001 European health ministers signed up to the following principle: All children and adolescents have the right to grow up in an environment protected from the negative consequences of alcohol consumption and, to the extent possible, from the promotion of alcoholic beverages”.
Obituary
It is with deep regret that we report the death of Andrew Varley. He was an assistant editor of both the Globe and Alcohol Alert. He had cancer and for a long time bravely fought it. To his wife, son and daughter we extend our sympathy.