EUROCARE SEMINAR AN ALCOHOL STRATEGY FOR EUROPE?Hosted by the Socialist Group in the European ParliamentPlace: European Parliament
– Brussels
Date: Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Time: 12h30 – 15h00Room ASP3H1
EUROCARE, The European Alcohol Policy Alliance, is organising a seminar on a European Strategy to combat alcohol related harm in the EU.
Context
On October 24th 2006, the European Commission released an EU Strategy to support Member States in combating alcohol-related harm. The Strategy was welcomed by the Public Health Community who nonetheless regretted to see the undue influence of the alcohol industry reflected in the text.
The EUROCARE January seminar will bring together representatives from the Commission, the European Parliament, the World Health Organisation and the Public Health Community to analyse the virtues and shortcomings of the Strategy and to discuss key questions such as its implementation and follow-up.
Background
According to the WHO, the European Region is the region with the highest alcohol intake in the world. The per capita consumption in Europe (15 liters of pure alcohol a year) is twice as high as the world average and so it is the disease burden. In 2002, alcohol was the third most important cause of ill-health and premature deaths and the leading risk factor among young people.
Alcohol is also a cause of harm to others than the drinker, including some 60,000 underweight births, 7 million children living in families wrecked by alcohol, 10,000 traffic deaths to people other than the driver, and 2,000 murders in the EU each year.
Recent years have brought increased information on the size and nature of the problems related to alcohol, and an increased understanding of which measures are effective and cost-effective. Meanwhile the growth of trade agreements, internal market rules (for example, very large traveler allowances) and increased globalization of the alcohol market have weakened governments’ ability to maintain effective alcohol policies at national level.
Main Aims:
Raise awareness of the size and nature of the problems related to alcohol
Increase the understanding of effective and cost-effective measures
Analyse the virtues and shortcomings of the Alcohol Strategy proposed by the Commission
Programme:
See Draft Programme here (pdf 27k).
Place:
European Parliament – Brussels. Bâtiment Altiero Spinelli. 60, rue WiertzRoom ASP 3H1.
Date and time: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 from 12h30 to 15h00
Organizers:
EUROCARE with the cooperation of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament
Participants:
Representatives from the Commission, the European Parliament, the World Health Organisation, the Public Health Community and the NGO Community and Health Permanent Representatives.
Information Forum: There will also be an Information Forum where participants can find all the latest research and publications on Alcohol Policy in Europe
Working language of the seminar: English.
Lunch will be provided at the entrance.
Registration:
Due to the limited amount of available seats, prior registration is required.
Deadline for registration:
30 January 2007 (for those who have a permanent pass to the European Parliament)
17 January 2007 (for those who DO NOT have a permanent pass)
To download the registration form click here. (Word Document 120kb)Please send your registration form to ruth.ruiz@europanytt.no or fax it to +32 (0)2 233 38 80
SEE ALL PRACTICAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE SEMINAR HERE (Word Document 1.5mb)
For any additional information please contact Ruth Ruiz: ruth.ruiz@europanytt.no or tel.: +32 (0)2 233 38 71
Relevant documents on the Harm done by alcohol:-Report alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective – http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/news_alcoholineurope_en.htm
Relevant documents on the EU Alcohol Strategy- Text of the Strategy http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/alcohol/alcohol_com_en.htm-
EUROCARE analysis of the European Commission Communication on the EU Alcohol strategy Framework for Alcohol Policy in the WHO European Region – World Health Organisation – Europe http://www.euro.who.int/document/e88335.pdf
Relevant papers on Alcohol Marketing and Young people
- “Don’t ask a bird to clip its own wings” STAP - http://www.alcoholpreventie.nl/bestand/bird.pdf
- ”Marketing Alcohol to Young people” EUROCARE http://www.eurocare.org/pdf/pubs/mkt_alcoholyp.pdff
