Alcohol and Drugs

Brussels, 3 May – Today, the Scottish Government has won a case on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol (1) in the Scottish High Court - the first legally-binding minimum price on alcohol within the EU. Now the alcohol industry will have 21 days to decide whether it has grounds for appeal. MUP sets a floor price below which alcohol cannot be legally sold and unlike taxation, MUP prices alcoholic beverages based on their strength. Alcohol misuse hits the poor badly, most of whom (...)

Brussels, 24 April – Today Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from various political groups, along with representatives of governments, leading academics and public health organisations (1), have renewed their support for strong measures to bring down the current high rate of alcohol misuse in Europe. The seminar also served to launch in Europe the ’Alcohol and Cancer’ report (2). “If policy-makers are serious about tackling the danger that heavy (...)

You are cordially invited to join Alex Neil, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being & representatives from governments, non-governmental organisations, leading academics and Members of the European Parliament for an EVENING RECEPTION and European launch of Alcohol and cancer: a report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA). European Parliament (Brussels) 24 April 2013, from 19:00 Co-hosted by Rebecca Taylor MEP (UK, ALDE) (...)

As agriculture ministers from the EU’s member states agreed a negotiating position on reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) at the 19 March AGRIFISH Council meeting, the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC), of which EPHA is a member, sent a message to the ministers, urging them to recognise a public health dimension of European food, farming and rural development policy. Brussels, 26 March 2013 Dear Ministers, On March 19, 2013 at the AGRIFISH Council (...)

The British Medical Association has launched an e-petition to call on the UK government not to backtrack on its plans to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP). MUP is shown in models and in practice in Canada to help reduce the harm associated with the heaviest forms of drinking - and in effect will eliminate the bottom end supermarket and low brand lagers and ciders that are bought in high volume and consumed by the most vulnerable parts of our populations. With this e-petition, the (...)

These principles, which constitute a basis for consensus and constructive dialogue between business and civil society’s organisations, are the first results of the Commission’s strategy on Corporate Social Responsibility. Given the "necessity of creating conditions favorable to sustainable growth, responsible business behavior and durable employment generation in the medium and long term" the European Commission released, in October 2011, "A renewed EU strategy 2011-2014 for (...)

EPHA has published an open letter to the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Based on the recently released Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2013, the letter makes recommendations aimed at boosting investment in health and sustainable development. On February 28, EPSCO Council met to discuss the AGS and formulate recommendations towards the EU Spring Council of March. The meeting outcome has great impact, not only on EU guidance, but also on national (...)

The December meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) adopted a set of conclusions on Healthy Ageing. It asks for a rethink of health systems towards more prevention. The Council also calls for a new Alcohol Strategy, to replace the current mandate which endsed in 2012. Europe’s population is rapidly ageing, which is challenging, among others, pillars of welfare , pensions, and healthcare systemss. The 2012 European Year for active ageing (...)

In September 2012, the European Economic and Social Committee published its opinion on "A framework for advertising aimed at young people and children". Among its main messages, the Report regrets that the current advertising framework is not protective enough and urges the European Commission to consider the adoption of more restrictive measures. Concerned by the rising presence of online media, especially social media and their sometimes intrusive not to say inappropriate actions, the (...)

At its plenary sitting of 20 November 2012, the European Parliament adopted a report "Promotion measures and information provision for agricultural products" by Jose Bove MEP (FR, the Greens). Although quite comprehensive, European Public Health Alliance is concerned about specific inclusion of support towards actions aimed at increasing "European quality wine consumption". Whilst quite comprehensive in itself by making specific reference to: information and promotion measures to be (...)