Comment

We highlight a report ‘Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective’ commissioned by DG SANCO and prepared by the Institute of Alcohol Studies. The report estimates that the tangible cost of alcohol to the EU is 125 billion Euros, that is 1.3% of GDP. More importantly the cost of suffering (intangible) places a further cost of 270 billion Euros. 115,000 Europeans die each year from an alcohol-related cause. Up to 9 million children are living in families adversely affected by alcohol.

Thus alcohol abuse places a heavy burden of economic and social cost on Europe. If it were any substance other than alcohol there would certainly be parliamentary and ministerial demands for action. It is the children who pay the price of the last round. Much is said about passive smoking, little recognition is given to third party victims of alcohol.

Action needs political courage but we are dealing with not just an irresistible pleasure but with massive vested interest. Whilst price is a major factor in controlling consumption a less contentious and a more politically feasible action would be to control the volume of advertising and ban sports sponsorship which is the most insidious marketing strategy of the alcohol industry.

We also welcome the initiative of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest in launching their campaign to end the promotion of alcohol in world cup events. See page 21.