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." ^[1]

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 Communication Agencies
• European Federation of Associations of Beers 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 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 Scottish 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

^[2]

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