Alcohol

Drinkers risk bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK has published a study into the increase risk of developing bowel cancers due to drinking alcohol, on 30 July 2007.
The major study was undertaken as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) by Cancer Research UK has found that regular drinkers face a more than 10% increased risk of developing bowel cancer, and the more people drink the higher the risk.
Published in the International Journal of Cancer the epidemiological study (...)

Conference: "Reducing the harm caused by alcohol", November 2007

The Royal College of Physicians launches a new event entitled Reducing The Harm Caused By Alcohol: A Coordinated European Response, that will take place on 13 November 2007, in London.
The one-day conference aims to bring together representatives from the UK and European medical professionnals to share the latest evidence and experience. Moreover, it will produce a Conference Charter for a coordinated response to reduce the harm caused by alcohol on Europe.
The event, financially supported (...)

Training seminar on alcohol related harm and primary care, 4-5 May 2007, Budapest, Hungary

This two day training was organised within the framework of the EPHA project "Building the health community across Europe" and in partnership with Vilans (a project partner).
The main organiser of this event is the European Forum for Primary Care (hosted by Vilans), with several local partners, including the Semmelweis University in Budapest.
The programme of the event can be downloaded below.
For more information, please contact Mr Diederik Aarendonk, Coordinator of the European Forum for (...)

UPDATED Eurocare seminar: An Alcohol Strategy for Europe?

UPDATED with the report and presentations. Eurocare is together with the Socialist Group of the European Parliament organizing a seminar on the EU Alcohol Strategy on the 31st January 2007.
Access to the report of the seminar and presentations.
Keynote speakers will include European Commissioner for Health Markos Kyprianou (tbc), Dr. Peter Anderson (author of the Commission report “Alcohol in Europe”) and Dag Rekve from the World Health Organisation.
Place: European Parliament (...)

Second Bridging the Gap conference on Alcohol Policy

The second Bridging the Gap Conference took place in Helsinki, on the 20-22 November 2006. It aimed to address the implementation of cost effective policies to reduce the harm done by alcohol.
Organised by Eurocare, the conference addresed the following six themes:
Creating evidence;
Protecting young people;
Protecting third parties;
Combating drink-driving;
Preventing alcohol-related harm among adults;
Informing and raising awareness on the impact of alcohol.
It followed the (...)

Newsletter October 2006

Welcome to the October 2006 edition of the EPHA Newsletter.
On the 25 October, the European Commission unveiled the EU Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm - a very disappointing text for health NGOs which hoped for a stronger commitment from EU officials.
The Strategy predominately promotes an education approach to combat Alcohol related harm which has be proven not to be effective instead of the proven best practice strategies such as better regulation of (...)

NGOs call a strong European Strategy on alcohol related harm

The European Commission is to publish the much-awaited EU strategy on reducing alcohol-related harm on the 25 october 2006. Leading national and European non-governmental organisations urge the European Commission to resist alcohol industry pressure to abandon its alcohol harm reduction strategy.
Notably, the calls come from a variety of organisations working on public health, alcohol prevention, social issues, child protection, gender-focused organisations (women and men), road and traffic (...)

EU Alcohol Strategy: People or profits - Who’s being served? - Eurocare press release

The European Commission is due to publish the much-awaited EU strategy on reducing alcohol-related harm. Eurocare urges the European Commission to resist the alcohol industry pressure to water down the future Strategy.
People or profits - Who’s being served?
On the 25 October what will the Commission decide?
Leading public health agencies and non-governmental organizations in Europe are calling on the European Commission to resist alcohol industry pressure to abandon its alcohol harm (...)

Eurohealthnet to work on health promotion together with IUHPE

Eurohealthnet an EPHA member and the International Union for Health promotion and Education (IUHPE) have joint forces to work on health promotion at EU level.
The two organisations will be working together on health promotion across Europe.
Among the main themes that have been identified as areas of cooperation, Eurohealthnet and IUHPE will focus on:
Mental health,
Health promotion
Nutrition
Alcohol
Health inequalities
The organisations will be taking part in joint workshops at events (...)

EMIP Project

The EU-funded EMIP project - Implementation of mental health promotion and prevention policies and strategies in EU member states and applicant countries - brings together eight European networks and 12 national partners committed to sharing models of good practice on mental health promotion and prevention.
Overall objective
to build and support good practice in the development and effective implementation of mental health promotion and prevention policy and strategy in the Member States (...)

Alcohol Policy Network in the Context of a Larger Europe: Bridging the Gap

A second phase of the Bridging the Gap project is currently being negotiated with the European Commission. The leading partner of the second phase will be the National Public Health Institute of Slovenia.
The project was funded by the European Commission for the years 2004-2006. It includes partners in 30 European countries as well as the World Health Organization (European Office), the European Youth Forum, the European Public Health Alliance and the European Cultural Foundation.
The BtG (...)

French campaign to prevent alcohol abuse at the workplace

The French National Association for the Prevention of Alcohol and Addictology (ANPAA) has recently launched a prevention campaign on alcohol consumption targeting entreprises.
Entitled ‘Preventing risks - our responsibility’, it aims to open a forum where all actors (eg employees, managers, healthcare professionals, and trade unions) can exchange best practice and debate over addictions and alcohol abuses at the workplace.
A forum has been set up on ANPAA website to stimulate discussion (...)

Alcohol Concern Annual Conference and AGM 2005

Alcohol Concern, an EPHA member, is holding its Annual Conference and AGM in London on Tuesday 1 November 2005.
The theme for the conference is ’Challenges and Changes: the new agenda for alcohol treatment’. It will look at the latest projects and policy developments, the research and evidence that underpin them and provide opportunities for asking questions and debating with key policy-makers.
There will be several keynote speakers including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for (...)

Seminar: alcohol is no ordinary commodity

During the first part of 2005 the Parliament will handle the European Commission’s proposal regarding an Alcohol strategy.
IOGT-NTO, an EPHA member, co-organised a seminar in this issue on 26 January 2005, hosted by MEP Mrs Cecilia Malmström.
Mr Kari Paaso, the representative of DG Sanco who works on the strategy, presented the EC’s position. There were also various guests who gave their perspective on the issue.
Speakers included Dr Michel Craplet (medical advisor of ANPAA, France) who (...)

French law on alcohol advertisement clarified

The French Parliament adopted on the 19th of January 2005, an amendment to the French law on Alcohol Advertisement (the so-called Evin Law). This amendment was initially intended to allow more room for wine advertisement.
However, in a country where alcohol kills 45,000 people and costs 17.6 thousand millions € each year, further promotion of wine consumption was considered nonsense, as claimed by public health prevention campaigns.
The amendment is the result of a consensus between wine (...)

EPHA Briefing Note: Alcohol and Young People

European countries are the largest consumers of alcohol worldwide. More than 55,000 people aged 15-29 across Europe die each year as a result of alcohol-related road accidents, poisoning, suicide and murders according to the World Health Organisation. The WHO reports that there is a general European trend toward wider tolerance, and even approval, among young people for intoxication.
Increasingly Young People are seen as market to be targeted by the Alcohol Industry. The introduction of (...)

Alcohol Concern’s Annual Conference and AGM

Alcohol Concern is organising its Annual Conference and AGM, at Glaziers Hall, London, on 2 November 2004. The title of the conference is ’A New Agenda: Moving Forward in the post-Alcohol Strategy’.
In 2004, after years of campaigning from the field, the UK government finally published the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England. Just over six months later, Alcohol Concern’s annual conference provides an ideal opportunity for all people working in treatment, crime and disorder, housing (...)

Eurocare’s response to the regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods

1st alcohol policy conference in the context of a larger Europe

Conference: "bridging the gap", 16-19 June 2004 Warsaw
Presented by Eurocare, in collaboration with the European Commission, the World Health Organisation, the European Youth Forum, the European Cultural Foundation & the Polish State Agency for Prevention of Alcohol Related Problems, and in partnership with NGOs and government departments from 27 European countries.
Aim of Conference?
To bridge the gap between scientifically based evidence, the possible and the practical in the process of (...)

Facts on alcohol

1 in 4 European men and 1 in 10 European women consume alcohol at levels hazardous and harmful to health
1 in 4 drinking occasions includes consumption of more than 6 units of alcohol (60g)
5% of European adults are physically dependent on alcohol
9.2% of all disability and premature death in Europe is due to alcohol (14% for men)
Alcohol is no ordinary commodity.
Submitted by Eurocare.
Source: World Health Organization, Global burden of disease (...)

Eurocare critical of "Drinking and Driving" spending

The advocacy for the prevention of alcohol-related harm in Europe group, Eurocare says that the European Commission’s budget for Drink Driving would be better spent on publicity campaigns promoting effective policy options.
The 2.2 million Euro designated to combat drink driving will not provide value for money for European tax payers, according to Eurocare’s new report on Drinking and Driving in Europe.
Eurocare says that whilst such campaigns are appealing, they have little impact on (...)

Eurocare Press Release on Road Safety pan-European campaigns

EUROCARE’ s report on Drinking and Driving in Europe, available below, says that monies in the Commission’s Drink Driving budget would be better spent on publicity campaigns promoting policy options which are effective.
This press released was published on the 23 May.

ENSP - Eurocare Letter to the Convention

The ENSP (European Network for Smoking Prevention) in collaboration with Eurocare (against alcohol harm), have written a letter to individuals within the Social Europe Working Group of the Convention for the Future of Europe, on behalf of ENSP members. The letter outlines:
The need for a firm legal base for tobacco legislation in the new EU
Constitutional Treaty
Requests that health be included as a fundamental right in the Values and
Objectives of the Union
Demands that health remain (...)

Call for an EU-wide zero alcohol limit for professional commercial drivers

The European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee adopted in November 2006 a report stating that there there should be an EU-wide zero alcohol limit for new drivers and as well as for professional commercial vehicle or bus drivers involved in passenger transport.
According to the report, this is needed if the EU wants to seriously reduce the 40 000 recorded road fatalities every year.
The own initiative report drafted by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PES, SE) responds to the mid-term review (...)

European Baseline Mental Health Conference, Budapest 22-23 March 2006

A major international conference on mental health was held in Budapest in March 2006.
This conference is part of the project Implementation of Mental Health Promotion Policies and Strategies in EU Member States and Accession countries (EMIP), of which EPHA is a partner. The project is coordinated by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - FIOSH/BAuA (Germany).
The goal of EMIP is to provide national partners and the wider EU membership with opportunities, resources, (...)

Upcoming three Presidencies and their focus on health, 2008-2011

The future French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies released their draft 18-month programme. This article outlines their priorities on health as mentioned in the draft programme. In the programme, the three Presidencies commit to actively promote work in the public health area, with the aim to contribute to a high level of health for all citizens.
EU action can bring added value to patients and health systems alike, especially in the context of increasing mobility. Patients’ safety and the (...)

European Parliament adopts an amended report on the EU alcohol strategy

On 5 September 2007 the European Parliament adopted an amended report on the EU alcohol strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm.
The report raises several issues including: labelling and warnings, binge-drinking, alcopops and reducing accidents caused by drinking and driving. The report was adopted by a large majority. To read the full dossier look at EPHA’s website.
EPHA welcomes that the rapporteur, Alessandro Foglietta, highlighted some of the important (...)

Netherlands Beer Cartel Broken up by European Commission Whistleblower

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition, announced on 18th April 2007, that the Commission has decided to fine Dutch brewers Heineken, Grolsh and Bavaria a total of €273 million for operating a cartel on the beer market in the Netherlands.
Between at least 1996 and 1999, the brewers made secret and illegal agreements to fix prices, divide up markets and exchange confidential information between the competitors. According to the Commission, this practice kept the price of beer (...)

Eurobarometer report on attitudes towards alcohol

The European Commission released a pan-European survey on attitudes towards alcohol, which shows that people who participated in the survey generally favour measures that aim to protect vulnerable groups and reduce alcohol-related road fatalities.
A vast majority of respondents (73%) would welcome the introduction of a lower blood alcohol level for young and novice drivers. It should be noted that a recent European Parliament report on road safety called for zero-tolerance on the matter.
In (...)

ECJ rules on alcohol excise duties

The European Court of Justice has ruled that citizens purchasing alcohol cannot avail of cheaper excise duties in another Member State and have to pay the taxes of their home country.
The Joustra case
Some 70 private individuals formed a wine club in the Netherlands. On behalf of this club, Mr Joustra orders wine in France for his own use and that of the other member of the club. The wine is transported to the Netherlands by a Dutch transport company and delivered to his home. Mr Joustra (...)

ECJ opinion on the responsibility of retailers in labelling of alcohol products

On the 12 September 2006, the European Court of Justice delivered an opinion related to Labelling and presentation of foodstuffs. It concluded that responsibility on the labelling and presentation is held by all actors involved in the manufacturing and distribution processes.
The Court had to assess who is responsible for the particulars on the label of a pre-packaged foodstuff and who is therefore liable if the particulars are inaccurate.
The Italian Office of the Justice of the Peace of (...)

*UPDATED* ECJ case on Swedish alcohol retail monopoly

*UPDATE: On 5 June 2007 the European Court of Justice ruled that the Swedish monopoly is a disproportionate measure to attain the objective of limiting alcohol consumption in general and limiting underage drinking. The ECJ concluded that the monopoly was against the EU principle of free movement of goods, and that it was therefore not compatible with EU law.
Despite that judgement, Maria Larsson, Swedish public health minister, confirmed that the alcohol monopoly will stay put and that the (...)

The revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive: an unhealthy Christmas present

Assessing the health impact of Agriculture policies in the EU and the US

The Swedish Institute for Public Health issued a health impact assessment on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which has recently been complemented by an equivalent report from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in the United States of America.
Both reports demonstrate that agriculture policies on both sides of the Atlantic do not contribute to healthier diets at the moment.
Ahead of the CAP reform in 2008, the Common Market Organisation on wine is already in discussion and (...)

Teen drinking leads to risk of alcoholism and social exclusion

A recent study reports that teen binge drinkers are more likely to use drugs, to become alcoholics and to be convicted of a criminal offense.
The Institute of Child Health released a study of 11,000 children who were born in 1970 and monitored at the age of 16 and 30. At the age of 30, participants were asked to describe their levels of heavy drinking based specific criteria:
Weekly consumption
Illicit drug use
Mental health problems
Educational achievement and employment
Personal history (...)

Commission report on national drug prevention and reduction policies

The European Commission has published a report on the implementation of a cornerstone Council recommendation on the prevention and reduction of harm associated with drug dependence. Although Member States have improved, much more can be done, concludes the report, especially in prisons.
On 18 June 2003, the Council adopted a Recommendation on “the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence”. The aim is to reduce the number of drug-related (...)

*UPDATED* Reforming the EU wine sector

*UPDATED with the adoption of the European Parliament report*. The European Commission unveils its proposal for a reform of the wine sector, ahead of the 2008 reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.
The European Commission’s objectives are to simplify existing rules, making labelling clearer and encourage better quality production.
Annually, the EU produces a surplus of wine which is likely to increase since European producers have lost market to ’new world’ competitors (eg the USA, (...)

*UPDATED* EU Strategy on Health and Safety at work 2007-2012

*UPDATED with the Council conclusions*. The European Commission has unveiled the Community Strategy for health and safety at work 2007-2012 which aims to achieve a 25% overall reduction of occupational accidents and diseases in the EU.
The new strategy builds upon the evaluation of the previous Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006 and on European legislations on the matter. It is worth noting that the European Union has legislative competence on health and safety at (...)

MEPs fail to vote ’not before 9 p.m’ for alcohol ads on TV

On 13 December 2006, the European Parliament voted in plenary session on the Audiovisual Directive. The law covers advertising, product placement and sponsorship. A new website ’Not before 9 had been created to encourage on MEPs to support Amendment 169 which would prevent alcohol advertising on TV before 9.00 p.m. The website contains examples of print and TV advertising for alcohol which show why the time restrictions are needed. Unfortunately, only 185 MEPs voted to block alcohol adverts (...)

*UPDATED* New European Rate for Alcohol Duties?

**UPDATED with the opinion of the European Parliament.** The European Commission has proposed to increase the minimum rate of duty payable on alcoholic beverages by 31% because of concerns that the present rate of duty payable on alcohol does not match current levels of inflation.
Duty rates were last set in 1992 and have not been increased since then.
Although minimum rates are set by the EU, national governments have the right to increase duty rates. In fact, many governments do so on (...)

Towards stronger alcohol policies in Europe? The pressure is on in the UK and Finland

While European initiatives on Alcohol related harm and advertising on TV have been watered down, two calls for stronger alcohol control policies come from Member States: the Finnish government plans to implement a watershed to prevent alcohol advertising before 9pm and the UK Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs asserts the need for better alcohol control measures as education proves unsuccessful.
UK: the Advisory Council of the Misuse of Drugs calls for a prohibition of Alcohol (...)

*UPDATED* The ’Alcohol Strategy’: a missed opportunity to protect health?

*UPDATED with the adoption of the resolution on EU Alcohol Strategy* voted in the European Parliament plenary on 4 September 2007.The adoption of the EU strategy is to support member states in reducing alcohol related harm.
The main themes
While the paper makes clear that the European Commission do not intend to develop EU legislation in the field of the prevention of alcohol related harm, the European Commission has identified the following five priorities:
to protect young people and (...)

Television Without Frontiers: an opportunity to protect minors

EPHA, the European Heart Network, Eurocare (the European Alcohol Policy Alliance, the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU, and the European Respiratory Society are jointly calling on the European Parliament to vote for a healthier media framework.
The European Parliament will start voting on the 03 October on the revision of the Television Without Frontiers. Despite much debate on the issue, we are still far from implementing an audiovisual framework that would fully protect under age children. (...)

Less tobacco and more alcohol consumed by French youngsters

The French interministerial mission against drugs and dependency reviews on a bi-annual basis the drug use of young people. It concludes that although the consumption of tobacco decreases, the alcohol use is alarming.
The ESCAPAD survey is carried out using a sample of more than 30 000 young people aged 17 and collects data on tobacco, alcohol and cannabis consumption.
Results on tobacco are encouraging as the daily consumption of tobacco has significantly decreased. However, 72% of the (...)

*UPDATED* The WHO seeks views on alcohol consumption

**Updated with the EPHA response and a model response for other NGOs.* The World Health Organisation is seeking views and opinions of stakeholders on health problems related to alcohol consumption. The deadline for answers is the 15 September 2006.
The WHO invites academic institutions, research departments, professional associations, NGOs and representatives of the industry, trade and agricultural sectors to express their opinion on the type of interventions that are needed at nationale, (...)

EMIP Project partners meeting, Tallinn, Estonia, 22-23 September

The country partners and Consortium members of the project EMIP (Implementation of mental health promotion and prevention policies and strategies in EU member states and applicant countries) will gather on 22 and 23 September in Tallinn, Estonia, for a final project meeting.
The project brings together eight European networks and twelve national partners committed to sharing models of good practice on mental health promotion and prevention of mental ill-health.
The final meeting in (...)

Combating alcohol-related harm in Europe - evidence of effective and cost-effective measures

Two major reports have been published in June 2006: the World Health Organisation European Region Framework on Alcohol policy and the report ’Alcohol in Europe’
Both documents are released timely to contribute to the forthcoming EU Strategy on alcohol due to be adopted in September 2006. They give recommendations about cost-effective measures to tackle alcohol-related harm and abuses.
Alcohol in Europe
The report analysis the situation of alcohol in Europe: the health burden, the impact on (...)

Selling alcohol to young people: the age limits at stake

A research study carried out by the Dutch Foundation for Alcohol Prevention (STAP) concluded that age limits for the sales of alcoholic drinks are not respected in the Netherlands.
Young mystery shoppers visited 300 supermarkets and liquor shops in the Netherlands over and 86% of the teenagers managed to buy alcohol.
Under the ’Alcohol and Catering Law’, it is forbidden to sell alcoholic products to children below the age of 16; the age-limit for selling distilled spirits is 18 years. (...)

Regulation of Television Advertising: the devil is in the detail

The European Commission is in the process of reviewing its regulatory approach to the audiovisual sector. A 2003 Communication the Commission announced three Focus Groups to be organised with experts.
Eurocare, an EPHA member, is part of the Focus Group 2 organised by the Commission which debates the level of detail in the regulation of advertising.
Eurocare has issued a document with comments and recommendations. You can download the document at the bottom of this article.
As the (...)

WHO Euro region agrees a resolution on alcohol-related harm

At its meeting on 22 January 2005, the World Health Organisation Executive Board approved a draft resolution to be presented for adoption by the World Health Assembly in May on “ Public Health Problems caused by harmful use of alcohol ” which emphasises the influence of alcohol consumption on public health.
The WHO notes that alcohol in Europe causes 9.2% of all ill-health and premature death. Between 40% and 60% of deaths from intentional and unintentional injury are (...)

ECJ rules that lower taxes on ouzo are not a breach of EU law

The European Court of Justice has ruled against a European Commission challenge to the Greek government’s lower rate of tax on Ouzo compared to other alcoholic drinks.
The Commission argued that it had received complaints from drinks manufacturers that the 50 % lower tax rate for ouzo contravened Directive 92/83 on the harmonisation of alcohol excise duties. The Commission’ s opinion is that the favourable tax regime for Ouzo meant excess taxes for products from other European countries. (...)

UK public health strategy reflects huge response to public consultation

The UK government published a White Paper entitled ’Choosing Health’ on November 16 2004 which outlines a number of measures aimed at improving public health in the United Kingdom.
There were an unprecedented number of responses to the four month long consultation with some 150,000 people responding directly or taking part in local discussions or surveys.
The white paper identifies key priorities as obesity, smoking, alcohol and sexual health.
The key recommendations of the (...)

4 simple steps to longer, healthier life

New European research shows that for older people that risk of death can be cut by 60 % through the single and combined effect of :
a Mediterranean diet,
being physically active,
moderate alcohol use
nonsmoking.
The data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that following these four basic health measures results in 50% lower rate of all-causes and cause-specific mortality.
The demographic pattern of Europe is changing. Increases in life expectancy mean (...)

French Evin law is declared compatible with EU law

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled on the Commission and Bacardi case against the French Alcohol advertising ban (Loi Evin) that the French legislation is compatible with EU law.
The final judgement says that such a ban constitutes a restriction on the freedom to provide services, but that it is justified by the aim of protecting public health.
The two rulings are C-262/02 and C-429/02, and were issued on the 13th July 2004.
The ECJ agrees with the Advocate General on all (...)

Eurocare Briefing: Five Facts about Alcohol and Health

This fact file will help you to understand the full extent of health problems arising from alcohol.
Many people are not fully aware of the extent of the health problems arising from alcohol.
Many people misunderstand the relationship between alcohol and reduced risk of heart disease.
Many people think that wine doesn’t cause health problems and that instead wine protects against heart disease.
1. Alcohol causes nearly 1 in 10 of all ill-health and premature death in Europe The World (...)

ECJ opinion in favour of French law on alcohol

On 11 March 2004, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the French ’Loi Evin’ restricting advertising of alcohol is in accordance with EU rules.
The opinion in C-262/02 Commission v France, and C-429/02 Bacardi v. France dealt with whether the French law pased the ’proportionality test’ — eg; whether it does beyond the minimum necessary to achieve the desired objectives.
Bacardi, whose legal bid was filed at the European Court of Justice by French (...)

Facts and figures on health in the EU

Eurostat has released ’Key data on health in the EU’ an internationally comparable set of health data and indicators taken from the most relevant data sources available: Eurostat, the OECD and the WHO.
The publication is divided into six chapters (Population and socio-economic background, Lifestyles, Risk associated with the environment, Working conditions, Leisure and traffic, Health status, Mortality and Health care), and covers many new topics such as human resources in the care and (...)

Agenda: Commission network on ’Alcohol and Health’, 1-2 December 2003

The European Commission Network on ’Alcohol and Health’ is a multi-stakeholder group consisting of NGOs, alcohol producers and the advertising industry.
The next meeting will be held in Luxembourg on 1-2 December 2003. On the agenda are issues to be inclued in the Community Strategt to reduce alcohol-related harm, self-regulation of the alcohol industry advertising, implementing the European Council’s Recommendations on young people and alcohol.
For more information, contact the European (...)

New Atlas of health in Europe

The WHO has published a statistical atlas of key health data for the 51 countries of the WHO European region.
The data, covering 1980-2001 includes demographic and population data, figures on mortality and morbidity as well as lifestyle and environmental indicators such as alcohol consumption and road traffic accidents, and types and levels of health care.
The report shows an increasing gap in overall life expectancy between western Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union which (...)

Council Recommendation on Drug Dependence

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council has adopted a Recommendation, on the prevention and reduction of health-related harm associated with drug dependence.
The Recomendation calls on Member States to make available a range of different services and facilities, particularly aiming at risk reduction.
Particular emphasis is placed on the prevention of drug-related infections (such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases).
For further details, please consult (...)

Eurocare’s Response to Consultation on marketing of alcohol

Alcoholic Beverages and the Revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive

Commission to Clamp Down on Unfair Commercial Practices

The European Commission is poised to table a new Framework Directive to plug loopholes in existing legislation and clamp down on unfair commercial practices.
In the proposal it is hoping to approve at its June 18 meeting, the Commission says it wants to establish an updated, flexible and harmonised consumer protection framework, on the one hand, and and promote good business practice across an enlarged EU, on the other.
The EU executive reckons that the promotion and guarantee of "fair (...)

Drinking and Driving in Europe

The following Eurocare report and its recommendations are a contribution towards the aim that the European Union has set itself: halving the number of people killed in road traffic accidents from 40,000 a year in the existing fifteen countries of the Union between 2000 and 2010 through harmonization of penalties and the promotion of new technologies to improve road safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. A maximum blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.5 g/L (and breath equivalent) should be (...)

Draft Agenda DG SANCO: Meeting on Alcohol and Health

Please find below the draft agenda for the Meeting of the Working Group on "Alcohol and Health" on 11 and 12 June 2003 in Luxembourg.
Joint meeting with representatives of interest groups (alcohol industry, advertisers and NGOs).
For more information, please contact the European Commission, Filomena Lopo.

Sweden to Clash With EU on Alcohol Policies

The traditional Swedish alcohol policy is under pressure from EU harmonisation, as the Market Court in Stockholm has ruled that the country can no longer keep up its ban on advertisements for alcohol.
At the same time, Sweden finds the new EU rules on drugs too slack, as the country has until now maintained a policy of zero toleration.
EU Observer article.

WHO reveals the economic cost of interpersonal violence

A WHO report reveals that violence devastates lives and also imposes major economic costs on societies around the world, some of which spend more than 4% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on dealing with violence-related injuries.
The economic dimensions of interpersonal violence, compiles currently available information on the costs of violence against children, women and the elderly and among young people, including information on the cost-effectiveness of preventing violence.
1.6 (...)