www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Alcohol industry called upon to take more effective action!
Ahead of the next Alcohol and Health Forum meetings, public health experts and NGOs in the Forum have issued an Open Letter to its members calling upon the alcohol industry to take responsibility for their share of the problems caused by their products in Europe.
The EU Alcohol and Health Forum (EAHF) will meet this Thursday and Friday under the auspices of the new Director General, Ms. Paola Testori Coggi. These meetings will mark the beginning of a new era in the Forum.
There have been several positive outcomes of the Forum, in terms of discussions and reports produced. Furthermore, it has increased action and coordination among NGOs.
However, the NGOs in the Forum feel that it could achieve a lot more if the economic operators have not been continously trying to divert attention into unproductive areas. see Open Letter: eurocare_openforum20101117b

This week, CNN, CBS, and NBC covered recent disturbing events involving partying teenagers getting sick after consuming alcoholic energy drinks: sweet, high-alcohol, caffeinated, beverages, now dubbed „black-out in a can.“
After throwing up and passing out, college students are winding up in hospital emergency rooms while the federal government delays action.
Meanwhile, the manufacturers refuse to take any responsibility and continue to aggressively market these dangerous products nationwide.
Last November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation into the safety of adding caffeine to alcohol. After nearly a year, what are they waiting for?
Tell the head of the FDA, Commissioner Margaret Hamburg (a medical doctor), and her boss, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that it’s time to ban these products once and for all. (Source: Marin Institute, 11/08/10) Take Action!

Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) has issued today an open letter of support for the Thai government for its plans to introduce alcohol health warnings labels on packages of alcoholic beverages.
In January this year Thailand has notified the WTO (Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade) about plans to introduce rotating pictorial warnings on alcoholic beverages contained in different types of containers. The proposal includes:
* picture printed in 4 colours and 6 types of which one of them is required to be rotated at 1,000 package intervals.
* 6 types of health warning messages
* they should cover at least 30% of package
* prohibition of suggesting on labels that alcohol can improve better health
In the open letter Eurocare expressed its support for the initiative of placing health warning labels on alcoholic beverages and congratulated the Thai government for its courage and willingness to take this step to tackle alcohol related harm.
The significance of the economic costs of ill health has been acknowledged not only by public health community but also economic agencies such as the World Economic Forum in its publication “Global Risks 2010”. Chronic diseases were placed as one of the top most severe risks facing the world. They scored very high on likelihood and severity indicators . Alcohol is the 3rd main contributory factor globally to chronic diseases (it ranks 2nd in middle income countries and 1st in high income countries) . … (Source: Eurocare, 10/28/10)

Today, in reaction to calls from their Thai partners and friends, young Europeans send an urgent call to the European Commission, the Member States of the EU and the broader public: alcohol is no ordinary commodity!
Andrea Lavesson, president of Active – sobriety, friendship and peace, explains the background: “We have received calls for support from our Thai friends in protecting the health and social safety of young people in Thailand, where right now the European Commission is conducting negotiations with the Thai government about mutual Free Trade Agreement. The problem is, and that bothers many young people in Thailand, that the European Commission puts pressure on the Thais to include alcohol into the Free Trade Agreement even though the Thai government is against it for the simple reason – to protect public health.”

In fact, the negotiations have been put on halt for the Thai government to consult with civil society and assess the health and social impacts if alcohol be included as trade commodity in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). While civil society protests against an inclusion, the business sector of importers, hotels, tourism enterprises, restaurants and alcohol industry mount heavy campaigns to get alcohol from Europe into the country.

Alcohol costs the Europeans 125 Billion tax payers € per year, an amount that is more than four times higher than what alcohol production, retail and consumption contribute to the economy. A disproportionate amount of the medical, psychological and social costs has to be shouldered by young Europeans under 25. Despite these facts and the apparent economical imbalance, the European Commission labels alcohol as an important agro-food export commodity.

“This alarms both Thai and European youth – and together we say: alcohol is not like oat. It’s surely no ordinary commodity,” says Andrea Lavesson, “even the WHO global alcohol strategy reflects that truth by stating that Public health should be given proper deference in relation to competing interests. We demand that the European Commission protects the integrity of that document that all EU Member States have ratified this year.”

“In Europe we make the experience every day that the alcohol industry makes its way to the decision makers”, tells Andrea Lavesson, “therefore it is important to understand that the alcohol industry’s business methods in developing countries are – and I’m not exaggerating – highly immoral. Alcohol industry violates their own codes of conduct wherever possible and target young people. Beer girls are, among other methods, used to promote alcohol drinks and increase sales.”
Andrea Lavesson sends a clear message to the European Commission and Member States: “Such an industry should not be invited to the table of diplomatic negotiations! If not the European Commission, who is to safe guard the interests of young people and to be a role model in public health protection?”

Kind regards and we, wish you a great day!
press release. For immediate release 28th October 2010

Anheuser-Busch InBev wants kids to think so. Help Marin Institute fight back against Big Alcohol advertising during TV Sports events with our Free The Bowl contest. The more alcohol ads kids see, the more likely they are to drink. 10.7 Million underage youth drink; 7.2 million binge drink. The Free the Bowl video contest empowers youth (ages 10-20) to make original „counter-beer-ads“ to speak out against bombarding youth with beer ads during TV sports events like the Super Bowl. (Alert by Marin Institute, 10/27/10)

State Authority to Regulate Alcohol Is Under Attack by Industry.
H.R. 5034 (Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act) supports strong state alcohol regulation and protects public health and safety.
Tell Your Member of Congress to Co-Sponsor and Pass H.R. 5034
Read Marin Institute’s Recent Testimony to Congress on H.R. 5034 (Source: Marin Institute – Take Action)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeks public feedback by Oct. 22 on its plan to focus on eight strategic initiatives.
SAMHSA released a paper that details its plans, titled, Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions 2011 – 2014 (PDF). It was developed with input from leaders at the federal, state and local levels; SAMHSA’s advisory councils; constituency groups; and people in recovery and their family members.
“This paper outlines the immediate and future priorities for SAMHSA, and to deliver the best results to the American people, we are seeking help and assistance from the world outside of government,” said Pamela S. Hyde J.D., SAMHSA administrator. (Source: Join Together, 10.12.10)

Put on the ballot by the Wine Institute (along with Chevron and the California Chamber of Commerce), Proposition 26 will prevent the alcohol industry from being held accountable for the harm it causes in California. So far, Big Alcohol has donated more than $700,000 to the measure. – Read More – Take Action (Source: Marin INstitute News, 10/7/10)

AB 1060 is an important bill that would stop retailers from selling alcoholic beverages using a self-checkout system. AB 1060 has passed through the State Senate and Assembly and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Take Action

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s ill-conceived plan to privatize the sale of spirits in his state will jeopardize the public’s health and cost the state money, as findings from peer-reviewed studies illustrate. One such study was published this month in the journal Addiction.
The new study concluded that privatizing Sweden’s government monopoly on the sale of alcohol would significantly increase alcohol-related harm, including violence. Depending on the type of privatization enacted, total alcohol consumption in Sweden is predicted to increase by 17 – 37%, with thousands more alcohol-related deaths, assaults, and drunk driving offenses per year and as many as 11 million more days of sick leave. (Source: Marin Institute, 9/06/10)