Eurocare Updates

Three out of every 10 teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 in Ireland has viewed an alcohol advertisement online, according to new research carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes, and commissioned by Action Alcohol Ireland (AAI).

On 9 and 10 December 2010, The Executive Agency for Health and Consumers organised a workshop to bring together coordinators of projects co-funded under the EU Health Programme which focus on producing and transferring knowledge generated by the project to the policy-making process, policy makers and the National Focal Points for the Health Programme (Member State representatives).

9 December 2010. Measures to tackle drink driving were in the spotlight at a round-table discussion in the Belgian Federal Parliament last 9 December. Etienne Schouppe, State Secretary for Transport, announced the implementation of alcolocks in rehabilitation programmes for first time high-level offenders and recidivists.

Brussels, 7 December 2010. The Council of the EU has reached political agreement, at first reading, on a controversial piece of legislation on food information to consumers. The aim of this new piece of legislation is to ensure that food labels carry essential information in a clear and legible way, enabling herewith consumers to make informed and balanced dietary choices.

ALCOHOL AND CANCER: RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Source: European Cancer Leagues

07 December 2010, For the first time in the European Parliament, the MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) interest group hosted a meeting to evaluate the cancer hazards of alcoholic beverages, and the potential impact of this knowledge on alcohol-related policy in order to address concerns over a lack of public awareness about the carcinogenicity of alcohol.

This special edition of Health at a Glance focuses on health issues across the 27 European Union member states, three European Free Trade Association countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and Turkey.

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, officials from the Federal Drug Admininstation, the Federal Trade Commission and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau took unprecedented action by notifying four producers of alcoholic energy drinks that their products were adulterated and constituted a "public health concern".

The industry funded Portman Group has launched a media campaign to encourage customers to alert them to irresponsible drinks marketing.

On November 22, 2010 the World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual Health report on financing health systems and universal coverage. The report recommends governments to raise the taxes on tobacco and alcohol to help pay for healthcare of millions of people who are unable to afford it worldwide.

In November the European Alcohol Health Forum (EAHF) held its 7th Plenary meeting and 3rd Open Forum. These meetings marked the begining of a new era under the auspices of new Director General of DG SANCO, Ms Paola Testori Coggi.