Eurocare responds to WHO consultation on ways to reduce alcohol related harm

Ahead of the development of a global strategy to reduce alcohol related harm, the World Health Organization has launched a public consultation on effective ways to reduce alcohol related harm at global level in order to gather the views of all those interested.

The submissions will be posted on the WHO website and may be part of the documents that will be discussed at the WHO round table meetings with the economic operators (6 November 2008), and the NGOs and health professionals (24-25 November 2008), as well as in the regional technical consultations with Member States (between January and April 2009).

http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/activities/hearing/en/index.html

Deadline to submit contributions: 15 November 2008.

In its response, Eurocare has welcomed the initiative of the WHO in coordinating a global response to reducing alcohol related harm. Eurocare emphasised the need for, and benefit of having a global alcohol strategy that would provide guidelines, set out policy priorities, and support WHO Member States in preventing and reducing alcohol related harm. Eurocare stressed the importance of a global strategy that is public health oriented, evidence based and free from commercial interests.

In Eurocare's view, two of the main objectives of such a strategy should be to provide support to MS and increase awareness worldwide of the harm caused by alcohol. A central task for the WHO should be to provide the knowledge base for WHO Member State actions, and provide the impetus for local, national, and international action.

To read the full response sent in by Eurocare click here

See also some of the contributions sent by Eurocare members: IAS, IOGT-NTO, NORDAN, STAP. Actis

Summary of Eurocare's response to the consultation:

Alcohol is a major contributory factor in injuries and accidents, abuse and violence; and inequalities between and within countries in the EU.

Alcohol related harm global issue. Eurocare believes there would be an added value in having a global alcohol strategy that provides guidelines and sets out policy priorities, and supports MS in preventing and reducing alcohol related harm.

Both the ‘Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region' and the EU Alcohol Strategy have proven the need for, and benefit of coordinated action, and provided impetus for action.

Question 1: What are your views on effective strategies to reduce alcohol related harm?

A comprehensive alcohol strategy should be public health oriented, evidence based, and overall cost effective. It should:

• be underpinned by an integrated approach across relevant sectors and government departments at different levels
• assess the scale of the problem
• include targets/objectives and a structure for implementation/monitoring including clear responsibility/accountability

Integrated strategies should consist of a mix of effective interventions: Reducing affordability and availability; Regulating alcohol marketing; Drink-driving countermeasures; Opportunistic screening and brief interventions ; Treatment and rehabilitation; Education, and awareness raising.

A global strategy would provide a common framework and a knowledge base for all WHO MS. It should be adaptable to the differing national, religious and cultural contexts, as well as to the diverging public health problems, needs and priorities, and discrepancies in resources, capacities and capabilities.

Question 2: From a global perspective, what are the best ways to reduce problems related to harmful use of alcohol?

Two of the main objectives should be to provide support to MS and increase awareness worldwide of the harm caused by alcohol.

There are cross-border issues that require global action and that have emerged as worldwide concerns, which need to be addressed by an overarching global framework for action.

One central task for the WHO will be to provide the knowledge base for WHO Member State actions, and provide the impetus for local, national, and international action.

Areas in which the WHO can take the lead: Strengthening evidence base; Ensuring adequate data collection; Further developing Global Burden of Disease study; Supporting further research etc

Question 3: In what ways can your organisation contribute to reduce alcohol related harm?

Eurocare is a network of 50 NGOs across Europe. Members are involved in the different branches of alcohol work. Our main objectives are to: Raise awareness among decision makers of the harms caused by alcohol; Bridge the gap between science and policy; Mobilise civil society to promote effective alcohol policies. Eurocare believes in the participation of civil society organizations without conflict of interests in alcohol policy development, as a counter-influence to the vested trade interests, which might otherwise dominate political decision-making.

Eurocare could support the implementation of the strategy by:

- Advocating the implementation of evidence based alcohol policies and promote coalition building at both national and EU level.

- Mobilising civil society in supporting the implementation of the strategy

- Providing independent monitoring of the implementation of the strategy at the European level.

- Translating the evidence into policy recommendations

- Being a one stop resource for European information and analysis. Disseminate it through our website, newsletter and events.

- Hosting a data base of EC funded projects in our website