Eurocare Charter
Eurocare believes that:
- The European Union can no longer remain solely an economic union. It must become a social community where the interests of collective health take precedence over individual economic interests.
- Alcohol is not just a marketable commodity. It is a toxic, psychotropic and dependence inducing drug. Because of that, its use must be publicly controlled.
- The means of alcohol production, distribution, consumption and control must be tackled at a European level. Such action must be supportive of national control policies.
Members of Eurocare further advocate:
- the existence of a link between the availability of alcohol and the levels of harm in society
- the need for legislative and regulatory measures to provide a foundation for prevention policy
- the necessity for a coherent balance between information, education and alcohol control policies
Eurocare is aware that the national situations in Europe are very different. Europe is divided into two: the Northern countries, which have made definite progress in their alcohol policy, and the Mediterranean countries, whose awareness of the alcohol risk is more recent.
Adjusting to a common policy involves risk and great care must be take.
