"I believe that we have, in the life of this Commission, achieved the recognition that there needs to be an alcohol strategy at EU level and that the next Commission and my successor will be devoted to trying to make it more effective."

5 November 2009. A Group of Members of the European Parliament from different countries, among whom the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mrs. Rodi Kratsa, announced the initiative of declaring a “European Year of Wine Tourism” in cooperation with the European Network of Wine Cities (RECEVIN).

Eurocare congratulates the European Commission for having released this week a Communication on Solidarity in Health: Reducing health inequalities in the EU.'

6 October 2009. As requested by the Swedish Presidency, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has presented its views on alcohol-related harm in European society. The EESC calls for stricter controls on alcohol marketing and pricing policies in order to reduce problems associated with alcohol consumption.

With the aim of supporting a sustainable, long-term and comprehensive strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm in the European Union the Swedish presidency organised on 21 and 22 September an Expert Conference on Alcohol and Health.

Stockholm, 21 September 2009. Coinciding with the presentation by the European Commission of its Progress Report of the EU Alcohol Strategy, Eurocare has also wanted to give its views and has published a report that contains its recommendations for a sustainable EU Alcohol Strategy.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) has produced an initial status report on what has happened at EU and national level since the EU alcohol strategy was adopted in October 2006.

Source: EurActiv. The Swedish health ministry has rubbished claims by Europe's beer industry that the country's alcohol policy has led to increased consumption and boosted illegal trade.

Full article at EurActiv.com

To mark the 10th anniversary of its creation the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) is launching an on-line discussion on European health and consumer policy. A dedicated channel on the Debate Europe forum will be open in all EU official languages from 14 September to 9 October 2009.

07 September 2009. Faced with the continuously rising number of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths, especially among young people, the doctors demand a prohibition of all types of marketing campaigns launched by the alcohol industry. This should include the ever-growing branch of indirect marketing, as for example through the sponsorship of sport teams or events, which is seen to ‘normalise’ the consumption of alcohol and equate it with other foodstuffs.