Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region

8/13/2019 Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region

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Frameworkfor alcohol policyin the WHOEuropean Region


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European Charter on Alcohol:fi ve ethical principles and goa

1. All people have the right to a family

w orking life protected from a cciden ts, v

neg a tive con seq uences of a lcoh ol con su

2. All peo ple have the rig ht to va lid impa rtia

ed uca tion, sta rting ea rly in life, o n t he

a lcoh ol con sumpt ion on hea lth , the fa m

3. All children a nd a do lescent s ha ve the rig h

environme nt prot ecte d from t he neg a t

of a lcoh ol con sumpt ion a nd , to t he exte

th e prom ot ion o f a lcoh olic beverag es.

4. All peo ple w ith ha za rdous or ha rmful a lc

a nd memb ers of th eir fa milies have t he rt rea tment a nd ca re .

5. All peo ple w ho d o no t w ish to con sum

ca nno t d o so f or hea lth o r other rea sons


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Fra

for alcohin t

European


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The World Health Organization was established in 1948 asof the United Nations responsible for directing and coorinternational health matters and public health. One of Wfunctions is to provide objective and reliable information of human health. It fulfils this responsibility in part thr

programmes, seeking to help countries make policies thaand address their most pressing public health concerns. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of six regiothe world, each with its own programme geared to the partof the countries it serves. The European Region embraces soli i i hi f h A i O i h


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Frame

for alcohol in the

European R


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WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region

1.Alcohol drinking prevention and control legislation 2.Alcohol-related disorders prevention and control 3.Publ

ISBN 92-890-1384-2 (NLM Classif

World Health Organization 2006

All rights reserved. The Regional Office for Europe of the Worwelcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate itsin full.

The designations employed and the presentation of the mado not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the pOrganization concerning the legal status of any country, territauthorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or designation country or area appears in the headings of tab

ISBN 92-890-1384-2

Address requests about publications of the WHO Regional O Publications WHO Regional Office for Europe Scherfigsvej 8 DK-2100 Copenhagen , DenmarkAlternatively, complete an online request form for documentatior for permission to quote or translate, on the Regional Officeeuro.who.int/pubrequest).


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C

Foreword ............................................................................

1. Need for a framework in the Region ..............................

2. Goals and objectives of the framework ..........................

3. Guiding principles for the framework ...........................

4. The situation regarding alcohol in the Region ...............5. Existing international alcohol policy initiatives .............. The WHO European Region ........................................ WHO global developments and initiatives .................... European Union developments and initiatives ............... Other initiatives ...........................................................

6. Recent and re-emerging challenges ................................7. Key players and their role ..............................................

8. Core areas and instruments for national action .............. National and local strategies and action plans ................ Alcohol-free situations .................................................. Issues related to drinking guidelines and recommendatio

A focus day on preventing alcohol-related problems ......

9. Key tools for international cooperation ......................... Further research needs .................................................. Surveillance and monitoring ........................................

T i i d it b ildi


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Foreword

The framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Regfifty-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for EuropeBucharest, Romania. It is a framework for action, a new milesefforts to combat alcohol-related harm in the Region. The framework is designed to succeed the regional action pference is that this new and more concise document presents

policy options, whereas the plans approach is based on prescrprinciples and measures in the action plan are, however, expand reinforced, to ensure consistency and continuity. Another iof the framework is an expanded and more detailed section on tion, with clearer commitments and a time frame for interna Alcohol policy is a challenging topic, not only regionally a

local level, but also very much at the personal and interpersalcohol-related harm is too great to let these challenges prevenpolicy measures. We also know that many alcohol-related probnot just the person who drinks but also others: the unborn chifriends and work colleagues, the innocent victims of a drinkdras a whole. These negative effects on people other than the drinstrong arguments for concerted action to reduce alcohol-relate

One of the main objectives of the Regional Office is to be Europe, and the need for a clear health voice on alcohol has ntoday. We hope that this framework will assist and guide Memplayers in the field, and pave the way for clearer commitmentregional action to reduce alcohol-related harm


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1. Need for a framin the

The WHO European Region is the region with the highest aworld and a per capita consumption twice as high as the worlalcohol was the third most important of 26 risk factors for bsessed in the Region, only surpassed by hypertension and toba

risk factor among young people. The disease burden from alcis also twice as high as the world average. The health and social problems for those around the drimportant as the problems for the drinker himself or herselfharmful use of alcohol on others besides the drinker is a very staking effective action to reduce the burden of alcohol probl In 1992, the Regional Office for Europe was the first WH

take the initiative of launching a Region-wide action plan on has played a substantial role over the past 20 years as a catalypolicy formulation and of health and welfare advocacy on alcin Member States.

Two consecutive regional action plans (19921999 andand two ministerial conferences, resulting in the European C

in 1995 (3)(Annex 1) and the Declaration on Young People a(4)have all offered paths for the development and implememeasures in Member States and therefore contributed to ovethe Region.

Recent years have brought increased information on the


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2 Framework for alcohol policy in the

renewal and strengthening of national and region-wide effto respond to the size of the problem and to put into practiavailable on effective strategies. A new phase of alcohol policy in the Region, initiatedRegional Office, is a timely response (see WHO Regional Cresolution EUR/RC55/R1 on framework for alcohol poli

pean Region, Annex 2). It should encourage and facilitateimplementation of global, regional, national and local coactions to prevent or reduce the harm caused by alcohol.


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Goals and objectives of the framework

2. Goals and obof the fram

A framework for alcohol policy is a long-term strategy for than overarching frame for existing WHO instruments and doaddressing recent developments, new challenges and further rframework is also consistent with other major health policy foing the Health for All policy framework, WHOs general prthe Millennium Development Goals and the Regional OfficeThe framework links ways, means and ends of an effective althe framework:

represents a broad vision for alcohol policy developments pean Region and a common understanding of the need to

alcohol-related harm; provides guiding principles and policy goals, and gives claobjectives, roles, and responsibilities;

reaffirms and creates continuity and a common platforinstruments: the European Charter on Alcohol, the Eurtion Plan (EAAP) and the Declaration on Young People principal documents for alcohol policy development in th

facilitates consolidation and synergy with other internatlocal public health initiatives; and

provides a rationale and guidance for the ongoing process oligning policies and programmes at local, national and in


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3. Guiding principlesfor the framework

Given that drinking customs and habits are deeply rootecultures, effective actions to prevent or reduce the harm require the development and application of evidence-baand strong political commitment. Building up public suppo

policies is thus an important part of public health action oEach Member State has not only the right but also thea high level of protection to its citizens from alcohol-relawith regard to harm from others drinking and harm to vas children.

Alcohol policies and implementing actions should be btific evidence about effectiveness and costeffectiveness, a

to cultural diversity. Where the science is uncertain, the prshould be applied, to give priority to protecting the healpopulation.

In the face of increasing levels of cross-border trade anthis area, regional and global solutions to the problems shomeantime, it is important that Member States acknowledge

other countries laws and regulations that aim to prevent or harm, as applied within their own jurisdiction.

While the diverse and multisectoral nature of alcohodialogue with and appropriate involvement of a wide vamercial and civic actors, public health approaches to alco


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The situation regarding alcohol in the Region

4. The situation realcohol in the

Alcohol consumption in northern Europe is at a historical higto increase. The decline seen in south-western Europe over to be coming to an end. In the eastern part of the Region, geremains at a very high level, reached in the mid-1990s, althodifferences between countries. Religious belief leads to veryfigures in some areas, but, among those who do drink, is abousimilar countries of the Region. In some countries of the Eurrecorded consumption accounts for a substantial part of totathis makes direct comparisons between countries difficult.

Even though women account for only 20% to 35% of ovethe European Region, this proportion is the highest in the world

continues to be at a very high level in the west and has increasedthe east. The trend in youth intoxication is also a matter of con The most recent data available show that, overall, alcoincreased by about 15% between 2000 and 2002, and now redeaths in the Region. Taking into account the years of life lomortality as well as years of life lived with disabilities, the b

even higher, representing 10.8% of the disease burden in theMales have considerably higher alcohol-related mortalitythan females. Young people are especially affected and, in themore than one third of the burden in men and about 14% of this attributable to alcohol. The detrimental effect of alcohol se


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than in the south for homicide, suicide and unintentional is consistent with surveys of drinking patterns, which find adrinking on heavy-drinking occasions in the north than in tsimilar gradient for some chronic diseases, such as liver cirrtern of drinking may also be important in the developmen The substantial reductions in mortality, not only fro

from heart disease, cirrhosis and infectious diseases, duringalcohol campaign in the former Soviet Union provide direcdeleterious drinking patterns in much of the eastern part

Recent decades have seen the development of a strong buring the impact of different strategies for preventing or redrelated problems. The general conclusions for alcohol pothe level of alcohol consumption in a population is an imof health and disease. In any given society, levels of alcohdiseases tend to rise and fall with rises and falls in overall l

Second, there are substantial differences in drinking pattparts of Europe, and these differences hold implications flevels of disease and death will change with a given change iThis implies that appropriate public-health-oriented alcoh

may differ for different parts of Europe.



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Existing international alcohol policy initiatives

5. Existing internationalpolicy in

The WHO European RegionThe WHO Regional Office for Europe has supported Memscientific publications, the regional action plans (1,2), and twferences resulting in the European Charter on Alcohol (Annlaration on Young People and Alcohol (4). The annual meetof national counterparts for alcohol policy in the Europeanforum for exchanging information and best practice betweenfrom all Member States, continue to discuss and support relein alcohol policy across the European Region. Since 1992, the EAAP has provided a basis for the develomentation of alcohol policies and programmes in Member

focus on preventing or reducing the harm caused by alcohol.The European Charter on Alcohol, adopted by Member

out ethical principles and goals for promoting and protecting being of all people in the Region. The Charter calls on all Memup comprehensive alcohol policies and implement programmtheir differing cultures and social, legal and economic environ

done by implementing the principles in the Charter as aims olaw. The Declaration on Young People and Alcohol complemethe EAAP by developing specific targets, policy measures and syoung people. The Declaration aims to protect children and


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WHO global developments and inThe world health report 2002 (11)estimated that 4% ofdisease is attributable to alcohol and, as such, alcohol wafactor among the 26 selected risk factors for mortality anAs a response to this, the Fifty-seventh World Health Asseresolution WHA57.16, which urged Member States to giv

vention of alcohol-related harm and promotion of strategiephysical, mental and social consequences of harmful use o The Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly considereadopted resolution WHA58.26 on public health problemuse of alcohol (12). The resolution, among other things, reGeneral to produce a report on evidence-based strategie

reduce alcohol-related harm, including a comprehensivehealth problems caused by harmful use of alcohol, to be prWorld Health Assembly in 2007.

European Union developments anDevelopments and initiatives by the European Union (EUStates, have important consequences for public health p

the Region. There have been several notable public healthin recent years: its partnership in the WHO Ministerial People and Alcohol (2001), Council Recommendation drinking of alcohol by young people, Council ConclusionCommunity strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, reitealcohol component of the Public Health Programme all s

active role of the EU in preventing or reducing alcohol-reCloser and more intensive cooperation was recently estEuropean Commission and the WHO Regional Office fto coordinate developments and ensure synergy between inpublic health issues on alcohol policy in the Region.


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Recent and re-emerging challenges

6. Recent and re-emcha

Alcohol is a part of everyday life in many parts of the Region.for many reasons: as a medium of sociability, as part of nutritiobreak, bringing relaxation from everyday responsibilities. Alpeople are familiar and comfortable with; it is difficult to adistance and dispassion to recognize and act on the problemuse. The symbolism attached to alcohol and drinking often gtional policy-making. Thus the policy challenge is both to accfamiliarity and the perceived positive aspects of alcohol consutake effective public health action to prevent or reduce alcoh As well as having psychoactive properties, alcoholic bevera

as commodities. The production and sale of alcoholic beverthe ancillary industries, are important parts of the economycountries, providing employment for many people, export companies and substantial tax revenues for governments. Tfiscal interests are often an important determinant of policiebarriers to public health initiatives. Dissemination of public

can counterbalance these economic and fiscal interests is par Controls on the supply and availability of alcohol have pthe most effective and cost-effective approaches to limiting thcohol. Traditionally, such controls have been a function of natigovernments and have thus been the building blocks for th


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10 Framework for alcohol policy in th

7. Key players and their

Member States have, through WHO, committed themsreducing alcohol-related problems. This means that goverdevelop effective and cost-effective alcohol policy measureThe implementation of such measures requires active involof resources and action by all the stakeholders at national is also an evident need to disseminate research results abou

fective measures in an understandable way to civil society support for such interventions. Local community involvement is crucial in preventingrelated harm. In order to empower local communities tolocal needs, interests, resources and abilities, as well as the lall be addressed. Active involvement of local decision-makofficials and senior administrators, is vital for public healt Health care professionals and public health institutionviding health care services, including treatment and brief indrinkers and their families. In addition, they are natural allalcohol-related harm, given their respected roles in the prosociety. A better understanding among health care professcope of alcohol problems and of the necessary effective p

help in mobilizing and lobbying for change in society. An important criterion in the work of the Regional OStates is that policies to prevent or reduce alcohol-related habased. This, in turn, imposes strong demands for indepencommunity from commercial interests and other vested i


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Key players and their role

Adults choose whether and how much to drink in accordavalues, concerns and preferences. They also have the responsibing others by their choices about drinking. It is important to emto make significant lifestyle changes, but all choices are madcultural and situational context, and behaviour around alcoAppealing solely to the individual to drink responsibly lacks c

disregards the fact that decisions often have to be made whalready intoxicated, and rarely yields a significant behavioura Young people are important resources for changing existing cultures and patterns. They should be better mobilized participate in shaping their own environments, as well as in chattitudes and practices of wider adult society.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe, as a public heal

vide leadership for action on alcohol at the international leveincluding technical and other support for national plans anstimulate international collaboration and action on alcohol-ralcohol issues. Epidemiological, policy impact and treatmconcerning alcohol have been carried out, mainly in a limitetries in the Region. In consultation with the research comm

Office can play a role as organizer and coordinator in identifyhigh public health significance, in marshalling resources to sustudies, and in reviewing and organizing a database of knowlepolicy measures.

Other international and intergovernmental organizationseral platform for action to prevent or reduce alcohol-relatedis important that the European Commission, the Council ofBank and other organizations inside and outside the Unitetogether with subregional organizations, become appropriawork to prevent or reduce the negative consequences of alcoh In addition to the key players and stakeholders in public


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8. Core areas and instrum

for national action

National and local strategiesand action plansWhile alcohol policy initiatives can be carried out at varioneed for coordinated and strategic national efforts is evid

establish a national alcohol strategy and an action plan aappropriate level within each Member State. In additioinfrastructure and capacity required to implement effectmeasures, as well as to monitor and follow up the action plcalled upon to develop or review their national strategies aninto consideration the goal and objectives of the new fram The 10 areas for action and the identified outcomes in

be of central importance for the implementation of nationshould be seen as an integral part of the framework. Theseand education; public, private and working environmentsability of alcohol products; promotion of alcohol productsbilities of the alcoholic beverage industry and hospitality seto respond to alcohol-related harm; NGOs; and formula

and monitoring of policy. In order to effectively prevent or reduce alcohol-related action plans need to support local communities in the devmentation of effective measures. Local communities need totargets, identify responsibleagenciesand forms of account


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Core areas and instruments for national action

sale. This applies to licensed premises such as restaurants, baas to shops where alcohol is sold. Programmes for responsible balso effectively reduce problems, if they are combined with by police and licensing authorities. Availability plays a particularly important role in youth denforcement of age limits on alcohol sales has proved to be reducing drinking. Some of the availability of alcohol can, rather than commercial, with young people accessing alcoholder friends; this calls for wider community action program

Education and information should be combined with ocomprehensive strategy. Education of minors is best implemecies and other independent education agencies that have the neexpertise and focus their activities on a healthy young generat

on the long-term effectiveness of school-based information ondisappointing, parental programmes appear more promising. Taddressing risk and protective factors, underline the importaport for children, as well as the need to set limits and the impthe onset of drinking. Drinkdriving accidents, violence and public disturbance

rences in local communities, requiring responses by communregulation and enforcement can effectively reduce rates of sproblems. With respect to drinkdriving, while legal blood-alclevels are usually decided at the national level, enforcement a local responsibility. It is important that police authorities gissues. Primary health care is an important part of the local coficacy of screening and brief intervention for hazardous driby a large body of international research literature. For suchimplemented, the health professions need to play an active roby health authorities. Specialist services are needed for the f l h l l d d d d h ld b l k d h h


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Alcohol-free situationsCertain sectors of society and certain life circumstances sIn particular, there should be no alcohol consumption dadolescence and in the environment surrounding young pesituations and circumstances that should be alcohol free arworkplace and during pregnancy.

Young peopleThe earlier young people begin drinking, the worse the coto be. Young people who begin drinking at the age of 14likely to develop alcohol dependence, to be involved in drinking or to suffer unintentional injury after drinking.during adolescence can impair brain development, causinother skills. Keeping children alcohol free and delaying are safer.

Young peoples environmentPressures on young people to drink have increased while, attive factors have become somewhat weaker. The sport and l

central part of young peoples social space, are strongly linkeextensive marketing practices, and this can result in uninviolence. Youth sport and leisure environments free of alcketing could help reduce the pressure on and provide a saffor young people.

Road safetyAlcohol impairs psychomotor performance, as well as judglower limit; driving skills are affected at very low levels of coaround the world has demonstrated large reductions in traffiwhenlegalblood-alcohol levelshavebeenreduced Theeffe



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PregnancyAlcohol crosses the placenta to the baby. It can cause problemand can also harm the fetus. It is not known whether or not thof alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Nor is it certain if of pregnancy is the most vulnerable to the effects of drinkindemonstrated safe limits, abstinence from alcohol during p

mended and should be encouraged.

Issues related to drinking guidelinerecommendationsGovernments have differed on the advisability of publicizinguidelines for the general population. Research has shown t

ficult to interpret and may be perceived as a safe baseline frupward in setting personal limits. Region-wide specific drinnot advisable and WHO continues to promote the message Should Member States consider formulating country-specifidrinking guidelines, existing drinking patterns and cultureinto account. The health benefits of alcohol in the population on cardappear at low or very low levels of drinking, at the most oneday for men at age 70, and less than half a standard drink pethe same age. All consumption above these levels is associatedBelow the age of 40, no substantial beneficial effects of alcobeen seen. Drinking to intoxication is always associated with There are no risk-free limits for drinking alcohol. On th

is no reason to discourage low-risk drinking in the adult pothat individual circumstances and situations have been taThese include, but are not limited to, medical and social facing machinery, pregnancy, certain pharmacological treatmenunfavourablywithalcohol and the risk of dependency By low

Core areas and instruments for national action


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A focus day on preventing alcohoproblemsOne possibility for raising awareness in society of the negconsequences of alcohol is to initiate a national focus reducing alcohol-related problems. Used in combination wterm measures, such a focus day could be an important ins

knowledge of the extent and magnitude of alcohol-relatestimulate support for effective alcohol policy options.


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Key tools for international cooperation

9. Key tools for interncoop

Further research needsThere is enough evidence available for policies to be establishedbut there are still research gaps and a constant need to buildformation gathering and analysis. Epidemiological studies sh

on a wider range of societies, mapping different drinking paMore needs to be known about the relation between pattern development of chronic health conditions. Better means of mealcohol consumption, including flows between countries, shand implemented on a regular basis. The literature on the effect of alcohol policy interventio

development, with studies being conducted in a wider varithe capacity for better integrated health impact assessment bwill improve our understanding of how the strength of policydifferent social and cultural conditions, with special attentiotarget populations such as age, gender and ethnic groups. In future studies, attention should also be paid to the d

implementing new measures, to provide a basis for furtherstudies. Since understanding the impact of alcohol policy mbenefit to the Member States in the European Region, internaare required to encourage and finance such studies. WHO shoing house for them and as an advocate for the further develop


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Surveillance and monitoringSurveillance and monitoring are needed at the national anand will continue to be developed in close collaborationWHO headquarters and the European Commission. Thcontinue to improve the surveillance and monitoring of lems in the Region by systematically collecting, collating a

data, and developing and improving the necessary indicatrelevant information in a timely fashion to Member Statneed to harmonize measurements of alcohol consumptioimplement a common alcohol monitoring system and to mfrom drinking experienced by others as well as the drinkewill also help to improve the basis for estimating the social cconsumption. The European alcohol information system (EAIS), is a web-based portal intended to collect, analyse and drelevant to alcohol policy formulation and implementatimportant instrument in monitoring the implementatiothe national and regional levels. There is a need to expand tsystematic material on legislation and marketing practic

EAIS should become the main clearing house for timely, information about alcohol policy research, formulation athe Region.

Training and capacity buildingBuilding and strengthening national and local capacity in

important part of a systematic multisectoral approach to palcohol-related harm. The Regional Office will thus contStates in developing training systems, building national coathe dissemination of effective and cost-effective interventioalcohol-related harm This includes sharing lessons learned


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Key tools for international cooperation

Advocacy, networking and policydevelopment at the Region levelEffective public health advocacy must be evidence-based, eIt must be able to package accurate, relevant and impartial inthat inform and ignite healthy personal and policy actionparticularly popular communication, is often ignored and r

for public health advocates.Potentially synergistic partners that could stand together

health communications on alcohol-related harm are often unaare doing and may mistrust their motives. Proprietary relatinformation sharing. The Regional Office will work to strenlinks between different actors involved in communication, ingovernment spokespeople, NGO advocates, scientists and edtraining packages and relevant networking activities.

A network of national counterparts for alcohol policy ingion, nominated by the respective Member States, was set exchange experience, plan activities, evaluate actions and prsupport for action on alcohol at national and regional levelseach counterpart should have relevant links and be able to b

the appropriate policy areas at the country level. When neeof national counterparts may be formed to advise on specievents. The Regional Office is committed to allocating resourcintentions of the framework. The task of attaining the ambitioing or reducing the harm caused by alcohol in the Region need

Member States and international organizations and institutto join a European coalition on alcohol policy development tnecessary support for and achieve the implementation of effecin the Region.


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10. The follow-up proces

The progress achieved within the context of the framewoassessed in order to measure success and shortcomings andaccordingly.

A progress report on the framework should be producepurpose of the report should not only be to estimate the levand success of the framework, but also to alert Member St

lenges and threats to public health and to identify any needframework. The progress report should be produced in clothe network of national counterparts for alcohol policy andcentres.

The Regional Office should organize a special high-leevery third year. The purpose of such a forum would be toand recommendations of the progress report and to dechallenging issues regarding alcohol policy, with a partwith cross-border implications and other issues that are dicontext of a single Member State.


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References

Refe

1. European Alcohol Action Plan. Copenhagen, WHO Regirope, 1993.

2. European Alcohol Action Plan. 20002005. CopenhageOffice for Europe, 2000 (http://www.euro.who.int/dpdf).

3. European Charter on Alcohol, European Conference on H

Alcohol, Paris, France, 12-14 December 1995.CopenhageOffice for Europe, 1995 (http://whqlibdoc.who.int/euICP_ALDT_94_03_CN01.pdf).

4. Declaration on Young People and Alcohol. Copenhagen, WHfor Europe, 2001 (http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/Policy/20030204_1).

5. What are the most effective and cost-effective interventionCopenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2004who.int/document/E82969.pdf).

6. Report on alcohol in the WHO European Region. Backgroundwork for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region. CRegional Office for Europe, 2005 (http://www.euro.wRC55/ebd01.pdf).

7. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Relattenth revision. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003 int/icd/vol1htm2003/fr-ied.htm).

8. European Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Dehagen WHO Regional Office for Europe 2005 (http


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11. The world health report 2002: reducing risks, promotinWorld Health Organization, 2002 (http://whqlibdWHO_WHR_02.1.pdf).

12. World Health Assembly resolution WHA58.26 on publicby harmful use of alcohol. Geneva, World Health Organpolicy.who.int/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?infobase=WHAFrame_Pg42).

13.A policy on alcohol for Europe and its countries. Redualcohol Bridging the Gap principles. Brussels, Eurocaeurocare.org/btg/policyeu/pdfs/2004-eurocarepolicy

14. Babor TF et al.AUDIT. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identififor use in primary care, 2nd ed. Geneva, World Healt(http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2001/WHO_MSD_M

15. European alcohol information system [web WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2005 (http:/alcoholdrugs/20020611_1).



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Annex 1. European Charter on Alcohol

Annex 1. Europeanon A

European Conference onSociety and A

Paris,1214 Decemb

Ethical principles and goalsIn furtherance of the European Alcohol Action Plan, the Paon all Member States to draw up comprehensive alcohol poliprogrammes that give expression, as appropriate in their difsocial, legal and economic environments, to the following eth

goals, on the understanding that this document does not con

1. All people have the right to a family, community and wofrom accidents, violence and other negative consequences otion.

2. All people have the right to valid impartial information an

ing early in life, on the consequences of alcohol consumpfamily and society.3. All children and adolescents have the right to grow up

protected from the negative consequences of alcohol cothe extent possible, from the promotion of alcoholic beve


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1. Inform people of the consequences of alcohol consumily and society and of the effective measures that can minimize harm, building broad educational programmchildhood.

2. Promote public, private and working environments prand violence and other negative consequences of alco

3. Establish and enforce laws that effectively discourage

4. Promote health by controlling the availability, for examand influencing the price of alcoholic beverages, for in

5. Implement strict controls, recognizing existing limitacountries, on direct and indirect advertising of alcohosure that no form of advertising is specifically addresseinstance, through the linking of alcohol to sports.

6. Ensure the accessibility of effective treatment and rehabtrained personnel, for people with hazardous or harmfuand members of their families.

7. Foster awareness of ethical and legal responsibility ain the marketing or serving of alcoholic beverages, eproduct safety and implement appropriate measures ag

and sale.8. Enhance the capacity of society to deal with alcohol thprofessionals in different sectors, such as health, social wthe judiciary, along with the strengthening of commuleadership.

9. Support nongovernmental organizations and self-hpromote healthy lifestyles, specifically those aiming

alcohol-related harm.10. Formulate broad-based programmes in Member States

present European Charter on Alcohol; specify clear tarof outcome; monitor progress; and ensure periodic upb d l



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Annex 2. Regional Committee resolution EUR/RC55/R1

Annex 2. Regional Comresolution EUR/

on framework for alcohoin the WHO European

The Regional Committee, Reaffirming that the harmful use of alcohol is one of the m

concerns, with the highest levels of consumption and harm pean Region; Recalling its resolution EUR/RC42/R8, by which it appsecond phases of the European Alcohol Action Plan, and theon Alcohol adopted at the European Conference on Health, Sin Paris in December 1995;

Recalling its resolutions EUR/RC49/R8, by which it phase of the European Alcohol Action Plan, and EUR/RCendorsed the Declaration on Young People and Alcohol adoMinisterial Conference on Young People and Alcohol in Stoc2001; Recalling World Health Assembly resolution WHA58.2problems caused by harmful use of alcohol; Recognizing that the harm done by alcohol is a pan-Euroserious consequences for public health and human and sociindividuals, families, communities and society as a whole, thainternational cooperation and the participation of all Membe


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Aware that public health concerns regarding the harmfto be duly considered in the formulation of economic and tand international levels; Acknowledging the leading role of WHO in promotingration for the implementation of effective and evidence-b

1. ENDORSES the framework for alcohol policy in the W

outlined in document EUR/RC55/11 as a frameworkand policy options for Member States in the Europeaaccount existing political commitments as well as newlenges and opportunities for national and internationa

2. URGES Member States:(a) to use the framework to formulate or if appropriate

alcohol policies and national alcohol action plans;(b) to strengthen international collaboration in the face

common and transboundary challenges and threat(c) to promote a multisectoral and evidence-based appr

the need for political commitment and the impormobilization and engagement of the community aactions needed to prevent or reduce alcohol-related

(d) to promote alcohol-free policies in an increasing ncircumstances, such as the workplace, in all traffic, yoments and during pregnancy;

3. URGES international, intergovernmental and nongotions, as well as self-help organizations, to support twork jointly with Member States and with the Region

the impact of the frameworks efforts to reduce the negconsequences of the harmful use of alcohol;4. REQUESTS the Regional Director:

(a) to mobilize resources in order to ensure adequate heaprevention disease management research evalua



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Documents

Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region