The issues
World Health Organisation (WHO)
WHO Global Alcohol Strategy
Background
On 24 May 2008, the Sixty-first World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted its "Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol" which called for the development of a draft global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by 2010, and, in addition, required that the WHO Secretariat collaborate and consult with Member States and stakeholders on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol.
Adoption and content
During the Sixty-third session of the WHA, held in Geneva in May 2010, the 193 WHO Member States adopted the "Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful use of Alcohol" (GAS) which provides guidance to both Member States and to the WHO Secretariat on ways to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and recognises self-regulation as a valid policy option.
The GAS contains four priority areas, namely public health advocacy and partnership; technical support and capacity building; production and dissemination of knowledge and resource mobilization. Complementary target areas include leadership, awareness and commitment; drink-driving policies and countermeasures; availability of alcohol; marketing of alcoholic beverages; pricing policies and reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication.
Implementation and future
The implementation of the global strategy requires concrete action from Member States and the appropriate commitment from all stakeholders. To this end, WHO encourages strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol that are included as an integral part of work on global development and in related investment decisions. The progress of the strategy will be reviewed at the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly in 2013. The industry globally has committed to playing its part in implementing the Strategy (link to global strategy)/
WHO Regional Committee for Europe (EURO) action plan
Background
Further to the adoption of the GAS, the WHO EURO region drafted an action plan to implement the WHO GAS in the countries under its jurisdiction.
Adoption and content
The draft action plan will be presented sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2011 for formal adoption.
CEPS position
CEPS is calling for the EU and its Member States to ensure that the proposed WHO EURO alcohol action plan is in line with the policies and approach of the existing EU and Global strategies and clearly recognises the role that drinks producers can play in addressing alcohol related harm.
We are engaged in supporting activities and campaigns encouraging consumers to observe responsible consumption patterns and are also committed to responsibly self-regulating our commercial communications (see Charter on Responsible Consumption). This engagement has been boosted in the framework of the EU strategy, where the European Alcohol & Health Forum has been able to help mobilise continuous and measurable commitments for action from all relevant stakeholders, notably among our sectors, to make effective contributions to the goals of the EU Strategy.
We welcome the implication that the Regional office is willing to consult with the industry, but are concerned that it does not confer recognition as a full stakeholder, appearing to ignore or exclude some of our experience and expertise, and confine any interactions to specific areas determined by the Regional office. Nevertheless, the industry wishes to engage at the earliest possible opportunity with the Regional office to explore where and how we can collaborate to further the mutual goal of the reduction of alcohol misuse.
Further information and links
Global Alcohol Strategy: WHO page on the Strategy.
WHO Europe page on alcohol.
Last updated 30 June 2011.
