Answer given by Mr Kyprianou on behalf of the Commission on alcohol and young people

In its Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on the drinking of alcohol by young people, in particular children and adolescents , the Council invited the Commission to report back on its implementation. Accordingly, the Commission has monitored Member States' efforts to follow up the Council Recommendation.

A majority of Member States reported that the Recommendation had encouraged them to step up their actions to protect young people, notably with changes in regulations or better enforcement to reduce under age drinking and cut back alcohol advertising targeting young people.

As a consequence, the increasing trend in binge drinking among under aged drinkers has levelled off in recent years. However, several national surveys indicate that binge drinking in the 18–29 age group, the age group with the highest proportion of binge drinkers, is still increasing.

In order to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm, the Commission, on 24 October 2006, adopted a Communication on an EU alcohol strategy.

This strategy, among other things, addresses young people's harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption, to which the Honourable Member refers, as well as the related social and economic consequences.

Concretely, in cooperation with Member States and stakeholders, the Commission will develop strategies to combat under age drinking and young people's binge drinking. Within a Committee on National Alcohol Policy and Action, which will be composed of Member State representatives and experts, the Commission will coordinate government driven policies, disseminate evidence-based best practice and monitor Member States' implementation of the good practises presented in the Commission's Alcohol Strategy. Examples of good national measures are actions to better enforce age limits for selling and serving of alcohol, a minimum 18 year age limit, educational programmes targeting both risk and protective factors, introduction and enforcement of rules against serving alcohol to intoxicated persons and a zero Blood Alcohol Concentration limit for young drivers.

Furthermore, through its Public Health Programme, the Commission will support projects that will contribute to reduce alcohol-related harm in the EU, and especially the harm suffered by children and young people, as well as gathering and disseminating data.

The major stakeholders will also be encouraged to contribute to the reduction of alcohol harm. The European Alcohol and Health Forum, which was foreseen in the Communication and established on 7 June 2007, is a common platform for stakeholder action. Its members are economic operators and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that formally commit to devoting time and resources to adopt meaningful actions to prevent alcohol-related harm. Member States, Parliament and the other EU Institutions, the World Health Organisation and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine participate as observers.