Globalisation:European Alcohol and Health Forum

Introduction

Company Description

'Europea Alcohol amd Health Forum': commitments for action by Forum members, In line with the process described in the Charter establishing the European Alcohol and Health Forum the members have made a series of commitments aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.' These commitments can be accessed from the following document; http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/alcohol/Forum/docs/overview_commitments_en.pdf.

Director

Robert Madelin Director General Health and Consumers European Commission

List of Members

The Forum has many members; they have been listed as the following organisations, this list was last updated on 12 November, 2009;

'Advertising Information Group Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) Alcohol Policy Youth Network (APYN) Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) Association of small and independent breweries in Europe (SIB) Association of Television and Radio Sales Houses (Egta) Brewers of Europe Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) Heineken (International) SAB Miller Comité Européen des Entreprises Vin (CEEV) Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU – General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU (COPA-COGECA) EUROCARE Alcohol Action Ireland Association Nationale de Prévention en Alcoologie et Addictologie (ANPAA) EUROCARE Italia Estonian Temperance Union German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS) Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) IOGT-NTO National Foundation for Alcohol Prevention (STAP) Nordic Alcohol and Dug Policy Network (NordAN) EUROCOMMERCE British Retail Consortium Delhaize Group Royal Ahold European Association of Communication Agencies (EACA) European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) European Cider and Fruit Wine Association (AICV) European Confederation of Youth Clubs (ECYC) European Federation of Associations of Beer and Beverages Wholesalers (CEGROBB) European Federation of Magazine Publishers (FAEP) European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) European Midwives Association (EMA) European Mutual Help Network for individuals and families with Alcohol-Related Problems (EMNA) European Public Health Alliance Royal College of Physicians, London European Publishers Council (EPC) European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) European Spirits Organisation (CEPS) Bacardi Martini Brown-Forman Diageo Moët Hennessy Pernod-Ricard S.A. The Absolut Company The Scotch Whisky Association European Sponsorship Association (ESA) European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) European Youth Forum National Youth Council of Ireland HOTREC 1 British Beer and Pub Association Finnish Hospitality Organisation (MaRa) Page Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHR) Institut de Recherches Scientifiques sur les boissons alcoolisées (IREB) International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) ReLeaf (European Young Persons’ Network for Drug and Alcohol Health Promotion) Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) World Federation of Advertisers (WFA)'

Health Strategy

In the European Alcohol and Health Forum, they have published a Health Strategy that states, 'On 23 October 2007 the European Commission adopted a new Health Strategy, 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013'. Building on current work, this Strategy aims to provide, for the first time, an overarching strategic framework spanning core issues in health as well as health in all policies and global health issues. The Strategy aims to set clear objectives to guide future work on health at the European level, and to put in place an implementation mechanism to achieve those objectives, working in partnership with Member States.'

They also add that the Strategy 'focuses on four principles and three strategic themes for improving health in the EU. The principles include taking a value-driven approach, recognising the links between health and economic prosperity, integrating health in all policies, and strengthening the EU's voice in global health. The strategic themes include Fostering Good Health in an Ageing Europe, Protecting Citizens from Health Threats, and Dynamic Health Systems and New Technologies.'

Presentations

EU Alcohol and Health Stategy

The European Alcohol and Health Strategy has had a contribution made by the Forum on the issue of alcohol consumption. This contribution comes in the form of a presentation by Director Robert Madelin in Brussels on April 30th 2009, highlighting the process of European Alcohol use. The European Alcohol and Health Forum have stated that within Europe, 'consumption levels are going down across Europe - but Europe still is region with highest alcohol consumption in the world, moreover, decrease in consumption is levelling off with most countries in EU face similar problems, found under the headline: Convergence of harm: under-age drinking drink-driving binge drinking (not only North: France, Spain…)' Also within the presentation, Madelin states, key health determinants, which show figures realted to alcohol consumption in the EU, these figures are;

• 7,5% of all ill health and early death in EU
• 195,000 premature deaths per year in EU
• alcohol is a contributory factor for 60 acute or chronic diseases
• in 15-29 year olds: 25% of male deaths and 10% of female deaths are caused by excessive alcohol

consumption