DATES TO NOTE IN YOUR DIARY!

Eurocare ‘Alcohol and Pregnancy' conference. 9th September 2009, European Parliament, Brussels.

For the third consecutive year, Eurocare will be holding a conference in the European Parliament to mark “International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders” Awareness Day. Eurocare, jointly with the Swedish Presidency of the EU, will organise a day conference in the European Parliament.

The event, hosted by the Swedish Christian Democrats will be an opportunity to explore the prevalence of FASD and discuss measures to reduce their incidence. European Commissioner for Health Androula Vasiliou has been invited to give the opening address. The Swedish Health minister Maria Larsson will give the opening speech. Experts from across Europe will be presenting both new research findings from their country and innovative prevention campaigns. A draft programme and registration details will be sent to Members shortly.

Some figures:

- UK: 55% of women admit drinking during pregnancy

- France: 52% of women admit drinking during pregnancy

- Ireland: 66% of women are estimated to drink during pregnancy

4th European Alcohol Policy conference. 16 – 18 June 2010, Brussels

This conference will be the fourth in a series of alcohol policy conferences (the first was in Warsaw in June 2004, the second in Helsinki in November 2006, the third in Barcelona in April 2008).

The scope and purpose of the conference is to promote and disseminate knowledge about current thinking on alcohol and alcohol policy matters, to build capacity and promote networking and coalition building between and within the European countries, and to provide the opportunity of profiling the ECs communication on alcohol, as well as relevant EC co-financed projects. In addition, in May 2010 the WHA has voted on the adoption of the Global Alcohol Strategy. Europe has a strong position and responsibility, being the worlds leader on alcohol consumption and an important exporter of alcoholic beverages.