European Alcohol and Health Forum

More than 40 businesses and non-governmental organisations, responding to a European Commission initiative, agreed on 7 June 2007 to take action to protect European citizens from the harmful use of alcohol. EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou and representatives of the businesses and NGO's signed in Brussels the Charter establishing the European Alcohol and Health Forum . The Forum, scheduled to meet twice a year, is to focus especially on concrete actions to protect children and young people and to prevent irresponsible commercial alcohol communication and sales. The move comes at a time when an estimated 200,000 Europeans die every year because of harmful alcohol use. More than one out of four deaths among young men is attributed to alcohol.

EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "My expectations for this Forum are high, as they need to be given the health challenge posed by alcohol related harm. In particular I expect the alcoholic beverages industry to market their products responsibly. The media, advertisers, retailers, as well as owners of pubs and bars should also contribute to changing attitudes and behaviours, especially among young people. We simply cannot afford to see so many young European lives being wasted every year because of the inappropriate use of alcohol."

Platform for Action

It is hoped that the forum will become a 'platform for action' with its twice a year meetings expected to develop a 'Science Group' to provide advice and guidance. The forum is also able to establish Task Forces, two are already running covering the areas of marketing communication and youth specfic aspects of alcohol. In order to become a member of the forum organisations are required to demonstrate their commitment to take action in a written submission. Members must put forward their plans for action with details of the proposed objectives with details of how the organisation will evaluate and monitor the progress towards fulfilling their commitment to reduce alcohol related harm. ^[1]

The forum has recieved a mixed reaction from stakeholders and forum members, it is part of a wider alcohol reduction strategy. EUROCARE believe the overall strategy to be very weak, although they welcome any opportunity to work within European policy circles in order to combat excessive European alcohol consumption and related harms ^[2]. EUROCARE also expressed disapointment that the alcohol industry and other parts of the commission "have ensured that the strategy reflects the undue influence of the alcohol industry, which has been responsible for one of the most intensive lobbying campaigns ever known in regard to public health policy" ^[3].

According to dr Peter Anderson, author of the Alcohol in Europe report, "The alcohol industry has lobbied to put their own profits above the needs of the European people, with commission officials other than those directly involved with health issues surrendering to its pressure". He also regards the proposed EU alcohol policy as "much weaker than the first draft and has a much greater focus on education as the answer to solving the problems of alcohol, when the evidence shows that it does not work “.

About the way the industry has lobbied and misrepresented the strategy, Andrew McNeill, Honorary Secretary of EUROCARE said “We regret to see the industry’s paw prints are all over the Communication”, and added “Given that the industry has made it abundantly clear that it is opposed to the whole idea of a public health strategy on alcohol, how can it possibly be seen as a main collaborator in implementing it” ^[4].

Founding Members

• Advertising Information Group
• Association of European Cancer Leagues
• Association of Small and Independent Breweries
• Association of Television and Radio Sales Houses (egta)
• Comite European des Enterprises Vins (CEEV)
• Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU (COPA-COGECA)
• EUROCARE
• EUROCOMMERCE
• European Association of Communications Agencies
• 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
• European Publishers Council (EPC)
• European Sponsership Association (ESA)
• European Transport Safety Council
• European Youth Forum
• Institute de Recherches Scientifiques sur les boissons alcoolisees (IREB)
• International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP)
• ReLeaf
• Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
• The Brewers of Europe
• The European Spirits Organisation
• World Federation of Advertisers

Affiliated Members

• Alcohol Action Ireland
• Association Nationale de Prevention en Alcoologie et Addictologie (ANPAA)
• Eurocare Italia
• Estonian Temperance Union
• German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS)
• Institute of Alcohol Studies
• British Retail Consortium
• Royal College of Physicians London
• National Youth Council of Ireland
• Heineken (International)
• Inbev
• SABMiller
• Bacardi-Martini
• Brown-Forman
• Diageo
• Moet Hennessy
• Pernod Ricard S.A.
• The Scotch Whisky Association
• V&S Group
• Delhaize Group
• Royal Ahold
• National Foundation for Alcohol Prevention (STAP)
• IOGT-NTO

Signing Observers

• The European Parliament
• The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• The World Health Organisation (WHO)

Founding Observers

• The Committee of the Regions
• EU Member States
• EEA/EFTA Member States

^[5]

Notes

1. ^ Euorpa Website 7th June 2007 European Commission, businesses and NGO's create Forum to battle alcohol-related harm Last Accessed 28th June 2007
2. ^ Europa Website Public Health Last Accessed 28th June 2007