14.0 Recommendatons

14.1 Our main recommendation to the European Union and the Commission is that within their sphere of competence, all future policies on alcohol production and consumption should be assessed in terms of whether or not they contribute to, or are at least consistent with, the WHO European Alcohol Action Plan.

14.2 That in the light of the above criterion, policies in regard to subsidies for the production and promotion of alcohol be re-examined. Wine should not be treated like other CAP products and in fact should be removed from the sphere of the CAP and separately classifed with other alcohol products. Subsidies not for the purpose of reducing consumption should be removed.

14.3 That the Union recognise the pan-Union shortage of comparative information, particularly in regard to social problems related to alcohol consumption and that this shortage of information makes comparisons of one country with another difficult and limits the possibility of setting realistic targets for reduced levels of alcohol problems and monitoring the success or otherwise of preventative programmes. Consequently, the Union, in co-operation with WHO, should encourage and facilitate the improved collection of information about alcohol-related problems particularly in regard to the family, crime and public order, and the workplace, and in regard to the social costs of alcohol problems.

14.4 The European Union should take action on alcohol control policy in five key areas:

Excise Duties

It is not self-evident that complete harmonisation of excise duties is necessary to achieve the aims of the single market. However, if harmonisation is to occur, the target levels should be closer to the levels pertaining in the higher tax countries. Excise duties should not be seen solely as a means of raising revenue but also as a "social welfare" tax, which member states should be free to adjust in order to protect public health and social wellbeing.

Market forces in the form of cross border shopping should not be allowed to undermine tax levels in member states. The EC directive on duty paid personal allowances should be reconsidered and special derogations introduced in particular cases (similar to those granted Sweden and Finland on entry to the Union). The present allowances are grossly abused and encourage fraudulent importation. They are clearly having and will continue to have an adverse effect on the tax regimes and consequently the level of health protection in some member states.

In regard to the structure as distinct from the level of alcohol taxation, as normally alcohol is the ingredient of alcoholic beverages which causes harm, and there is no evidence that one beverage is in general inherently safer than any other, there is an obvious case for taxing beverages proportionately to the amount of alcohol they contain.

A fundamental principle of alcohol taxes should be that alcohol should at least "pay its way" i.e. that the level of tax should at least be sufficient to cover the cost of dealing with alcohol problems.

Both the latter considerations are totally incompatible with zero tax on some alcohol products.

Drinking and Driving

There appear to be five key elements of successful countermeasures against drinking and driving:

• A high profile public education campaign focussing on the anti-social nature of drinking and driving.
• A low legal alcohol limit for driving.
• Vigorous enforcement of the law by random breath testing to increase the perceived risk of being caught.
• Penalties proportionate to the seriousness of the offence, particularly in cases resulting in death or injury to others.
• Special treatment programmes for problem drinkers convicted of drink driving offences.

Since citizens of the Union use the roads of Member States other than their own, it clearly makes sense from the point of view of road safety for the Council of Ministers to adopt throughout Europe the following common policy:

• A legal limit of 20 mg%.
• Random breath testing.
• Mandatory disqualification for a minimum period of 12 months for drivers above 50 mg%.

Alcohol Advertising

Several Member States have banned the advertising of alcohol on television, in sports stadia and in young people's magazines. This ban should be extended to all member states. In order not to have member states' public health policies undermined by international media, the Council should pursue international governmental agreement on the rules of alcohol advertising in the international media.

• The Council should introduce a statutory code of advertising practice for alcohol advertising with financial penalties for infringement.

Treatment of Alcohol Problems

All European Union citizens who experience drinking problems- from their own or another's consumption - should have access to treatment and support services in the community in which they live. Early intervention programmes in primary health care settings should be encouraged.

The Commission should be prepared to offer financial assistance to non-governmental organisations for the development of alcohol information and counselling services where such services have not been sufficiently supported by Member States' governments.

The Commission should be prepared to offer financial assistance to non-governmental organisations for the development of alcohol information and counselling services where such services have not been sufficiently supported by Member States' governments.

The adoption of common minimum standards for health and social care workers in relation to the knowledge and skills required for the identification and management of alcohol problems should be encouraged.

Workplace Alcohol Policies

People with drinking problems bring their problems to work where they can adversely affect health and safety.

All employers and employee associations should be encouraged to develop alcohol policies comprising procedures and programmes to discourage alcohol impairment and inappropriate consumption at work or during working hours, and procedures to safeguard the employment of those who seek help to overcome drinking problems.

The European Commission has already funded a Eurocare project to promote such programmes in Italy and Portugal. Further development is clearly needed.

14.5 EUROPEAN ROLE OF NGO's

The Commission should offer financial assistance to enable closer cooperation among Member States' voluntary and non-governmental agencies at European level. Such financial support would help such organisations to be:

• sensitive to the social and cultural attitudes to alcohol in the various regions of the Union;
• share information about the nature and effects of alcohol problems;
• exchange knowledge about innovative alcohol programmes;
• provide mutual help and support and assist in fostering good practice in helping problem drinkers and education of the general public.

Implementation of the European Alcohol Action Plan provides the basis for finding a balanced alcohol policy which allows those who gain pleasure from drinking the freedom to do so whilst minimising social, health and economic harm. Non-governmental organisations are a key player in enlisting individual and community support for the aims of the Action Plan.