3rd Open Alcohol and Health Forum

The Alcohol Health Forum will be in the future chaired by Ms Despina Spanou, Principal Adviser for Policy and Communication Coordination at DG SANCO.

Topics discussed at the meetings included: the social costs of alcohol, an update on the global alcohol strategy, consumer information, responsible selling and serving of alcoholic beverages, update on the implementation of the Alcohol Strategy, alcohol related harm at the workplace, drink driving and alcohol sponsorship.

The evaluation of the Forum and the future of the Alcohol Strategy were one of the issues of concern of the Forum members. In this regard the Commission representatives stressed that the work of the Forum will be evaluated on the basis of its contribution to the achievement of the goals set out in the Alcohol Strategy.

As an area of special concern binge and underage drinking were mentioned on several occasions. The emphasis was placed on the role marketing plays in creating lifestyles and social norms among young people.

In relation to the commitments Commission noted that they should be wider in scope and move from pilot to mainstream actions that would make a visible change in alcohol related harm.

The minutes from the meeting will be available in due course on the DG SANCO website.

Prior to the meetings, the NGOs in the Forum issued an open letter to the Members of the Forum where they urged the economic operators to make more meaningfu commitments that would contribute to reduce the problems caused by alcohol in Europe.

To access the letter and Eurocare press release please follow the links:

For the press release: http://www.eurocare.org/press/eurocare_press_releases/alcohol_industry_called_upon_to_take_more_effective_action

For the letter: http://www.eurocare.org/library/latest_news/alcohol_industry_called_upon_to_take_more_effective_action