Policy Issues
Pricing
There is now a significant body of evidence that has examined the policies that are most effective in reducing alcohol-related harm.
A review of 32 alcohol strategies and interventions has found that in terms of the degree of effectiveness, the breadth of
research support, the extent to which they have been tested cross-culturally, and the relative expense of implementation, the most effective alcohol policies include regulatory interventions (controls on price and availability of alcohol); brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinkers; and drink-driving laws.
The relationship between alcohol price and the level of consumption and associated harm is one of the most researched
areas of alcohol policy. Many individual and aggregate level studies have examined the effects of price changes on overall
consumption of alcohol, and on the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, and spirits).
Essentially, what the weight of evidence from all these studies and reviews indicates is that alcohol appears to behave like most other consumer goods in the market. That is, when all other factors remain the same, an increase in the price of alcohol generally leads to a decrease in consumption, and vice versa.
EU Alcohol Strategy
On 24 October 2006, the European Commission adopted the long awaited Communication setting out a strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm. The EU Alcohol strategy has been awaited since in June 2001 the Council invited the Commission to put forward proposals for a comprehensive Community strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm to complement national policies.
Alcohol and Health Forum
The European Commission’s 'Alcohol and Health Forum' constitutes the backbone of the EU Alcohol Strategy.
Launched in June 2007, this multistakeholder platform is composed of NGOs and economic operators (alcohol producers, retailers, advertisers, and publishers). The Forum is modeled on the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, launched in March 2005.
In line with the process described in the Charter establishing the European Alcohol and Health Forum members of the Forum have made a series of commitments aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.
A , a structure separate to the Forum will further coordinate government driven policies at reducing alcohol related harm at national and local level, building on the examples of good practice identified in the Strategy. National Committee on Policy and Action
Advertising
Alcohol advertising was first regulated at EU level by the EU's "Television without Frontiers" Directive, which was adopted in 1989 and revised for the first time in 1997.
On 13 December 2005, the Commission proposed a new revision in order to take account of rapid technological changes and developments in the audiovisual services market such as video on demand, mobile television and audiovisual services via digital television.
On 24 May 2007, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the proposal. The new Directive on Audiovisual Media Services entered into force on 19 December 2007. Member States have until 19 December 2009 to incorporate its provisions into national law.
Labeling
On 30 January 2008 the European Commission adopted a proposal on the provision of food information to consumers.
The proposal aims at modernising EU food labelling rules and making food labels clearer and more relevant to the needs of EU consumers. Under the Draft Regulation proposal, foodstuffs are required to list the ingredients and to display key nutritional information on the front of the package. ”. Despite their potential for harm to health, the proposal from the Commission exempts beer, wine and spirits from the obligation to list the ingredients and to provide nutrition information.
Alcohol Policy and the WHO
In May 2008, the World Health Assembly (WHA) approved Res. WHA 61.4, “Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol,” calling on the WHO Director General to prepare a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol and “consult with intergovernmental organizations, health professionals, nongovernmental organizations and economic operators on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol.” That process of consultation began in September 2008 and will culminate in a draft Global Strategy that will be delivered to the WHA’s Executive Board in November 2009 for its review and later approval at the WHA meeting in May 2010.
Follow the process for implementing the WHA 61.4 resolution and preparing a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol here
For more information, go to the WHO's global website or the WHO's regional European website.
Road Safety
Within the European Commission's strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, reducing injuries and deaths from alcohol-related road accidents is a main priority. The EU aims to support Member States in their efforts to reduce road accidents and fatalities as part of the strategy's focus on alcohol as a lifestyle and health determinant.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the EU.
It affects about 1% of people in the EU27 (i.e. nearly 5 million people) and is the only one that is 100% preventable.
Unfortunately, many women are not aware that, throughout pregnancy, even at low levels of exposure, alcohol interferes with the normal development and can seriously damage the unborn child.
Numerous studies show there are a substantial number of women in the EU who continue to drink during pregnancy. It is estimated that this ranges from 25% in Spain to 35%-50% in the Netherlands and even higher rates in the UK or Ireland (79%).
The umbrella term, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These can include physical, mental, behavioural and or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications
On October 24 the European Commission adopted a Communication setting out a strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm. One of the priorities identified in the Communication is to protect young people, children and the unborn child.
