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Eurocare Press Release: NGOS RESIGN FROM HEALTH FORUM AS COMMISSION IGNORES MEMBER STATE AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ALCOHOL STRATEGY

Public Health NGOs have today resigned from the EU Alcohol and Health Forum, following the announcement by Commissioner Andriukaitis that he has no plans to establish a new EU Alcohol Strategy[1]. The Commissioner’s decision goes against demands from Member States and the European Parliament for a new comprehensive Strategy to tackle alcohol harm in Europe.

Membership of the Forum, which is chaired by DG Sante, includes drinks industry representatives and public health NGOs. More than 20 health bodies, including Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance), EPHA (European Public Health Alliance) and the CPME (Standing Committee of European Doctors) today tendered their collective resignation in an open letter to Commissioner Andriukaitis.

Signatories to the letter outline their “deep concerns” about the neglect of public health and the prioritisation of alcohol industry interests. These include:

·        The Commission is ignoring calls from the European Parliament and Member States to develop a new EU Alcohol Strategy

·        The Commission plans to include alcohol within a wider framework for tackling chronic disease, which would fail to address many harms caused by alcohol to those other than the drinker, such as drink driving, domestic abuse and child sexual exploitation

·        There is no evidence to show that the EU Alcohol and Health Forum has had any impact on public health

·        The Forum was established to support the implementation of the previous EU Alcohol Strategy, which ended in 2012. With no new Strategy planned, membership of the Forum cannot be justified.

Signatories also expressed disappointment that the Commissioner had rejected requests for public health experts to have a formal structure to meet with Commission officials to discuss alcohol policy, free from vested interest groups.

Mariann Skar, Secretary General of Eurocare, said: “The Commissioner himself stated drinking behaviours in Europe are good for the Alcohol Industry but not good for Health. Eurocare represents 58 organisations in 25 countries and we deeply regret the Commission’s decision not to establish a new EU Alcohol Strategy. This flies in the face of persistent demands from Member States, the European Parliament and NGOs. The EU is the heaviest drinking region in the world and with 120,000 premature deaths related to alcohol each year, we absolutely must have a comprehensive strategy to tackle alcohol harm.”

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the EU Alcohol and Health Forum’s Science Group said, “This is a sad day for those who care about health in Europe. The Commission’s prioritisation of alcohol industry interests over public health has been laid bare. Many NGOs have participated actively and in good faith in the EU Alcohol and Health Forum, in the hope of making progress and reducing alcohol harm. However, with no evidence to indicate the Forum has achieved any meaningful results, and no promise of a new Alcohol Strategy, we see no alternative to walking away from this failing organization.”

Nina Renshaw, Secretary General of EPHA, said, „The alcohol industry must have raised a few glasses to DG SANTE after their admission at the last Forum meeting that they don’t even aim to improve health. The Commission has finally admitted what the health community has long suspected – that they have abandoned alcohol policy altogether.  The Forum has proved worse than useless, a free PR front for the industry. The Commission even endorses the industry introducing drinking culture to young kids by promoting „responsible“ drinking in primary schools. The health community had to call time on this charade.“

Alcohol is the world’s number one risk factor for ill-health and premature death amongst the 25-59 year old age group, a core of the working age population. Europe is the heaviest drinking region of the world. Consumption levels in some countries are around 2.5 times higher than the global average (WHO 2009). Alarmingly 43% among 15-16 year old European students reported heavy binge drinking during the past 30 days (ESPAD 2007) and alcohol is the single biggest cause of death among young men of age 16 to 24.
The World Economic Forum’s 2010 Global Risks Report identifies non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as the second most severe threat to the global economy in terms of likelihood and potential economic loss. NCDs are a global risk equal in cost to the current global financial crisis. NCDs account for 86% of deaths globally, cardio-vascular diseases alone cost the EU economy €192 billion a year; similarly diabetes type II affects nearly 10% of entire adult population and costs €166 billion annually. The World Economic Forum and Harvard School of Public Health estimate that NCDs will cause a €25 trillion global economic output loss over the period 2005-2030.
Alcohol abuse is one of the 4 risk factors for developing NCDS such as cancer (1 in 3 European will get cancer in the coming years) and cardiovascular disease. It is important to address alcohol in this context and give it the attention needed.
Addressing the issue of alcohol abuse through effective policies will offer measurable health system savings and enhance the growth and productivity agenda for Europe 2020.
By decreasing the level of alcohol consumption, as well as being physically active and having a healthy diet:
– 75% of deaths from cardiovascular disease could be avoided
– 30-40% of cancers could be avoided

Due to the size of the problem and the universal impact, alcohol abuse is too big for governments to solve
alone. It requires a comprehensive, coordinated response from policy and decisions makers at the
European and national levels as well as all stakeholders concerned.

With this in mind, we the signatories would like to call on the Ministers of Health in Europe to
acknowledge the need for a comprehensive alcohol policy framework. The Committee on National
Alcohol Policy and Action are meeting on 17th November and we urge you to put forward a
request to the European Commission for a future European Alcohol Strategy 2013 – 2020.
(Source: Eurocare; Link to the letter

Comment: For Swiss policy-makers too… But we know, they don’t care.

79 NGOs from various sectors have issued a statement of concern to the President of the UN General Assembly. The NGOs are concerned about the lack of clarity of roles for the industry sector in the recently held UN interactive hearing for civil society and the UN High Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCD) in September.
2011-06-23
The statement was addressed to Dr. Joseph Deiss, President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg, and Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, Permanent Representative of Jamaica. All are key actors in the ongoing process on NCD in UN.

The 79 signatories draws from various fields of interest, including Baby Milk Action, alcohol, tobacco, essential medicines, consumers groups and various health groups. While the organisations strongly support the objective of raising the profile of NCDs globally they express concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the role of the private sector. … (Source: add-resources.org, 06/23/11),

Malawi now experiences a conflict over liquor sachets. Government and NGOs versus alcohol producers. Health versus profits. Also other countries in Africa face problems with the small plastic bags with strong liquor.
A few years ago a variety of small plastic sachets with 40 % spirits were introduced to the markets place in a number of African countries. Now problems have become very visible from the sale and use of such alcoholic beverages, in particular among the youth and the poor. This has resulted in public outcry and political discussions in an attempt to do something to the problem.
In Malawi there was an encouraging political process last year which aimed at banning the sale of liquor in plastic sachets. Now, as a result of a court decision, the process has stalled. Governments and NGOs have their hands tied up by the court injunction, while the strong liquor continues to be sold to minors, through legal and illegal channels. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/08/11) add-resources.org, 03/07/11

Indem sie die Resolution annahm, appellierte die Generalversammlung an die Mitgliedsländer:
–          die Globale Alkohol-Strategie zur Verminderung des schädlichen Gebrauchs von Alkohol zu übernehmen und umzusetzen, um die öffentliche Gesundheitspolitik in den Mitgliedsländern zu ergänzen und zu unterstützen;
–          den schädlichen Gebrauch von Alkohol zu vermindern und den politischen Willen und finanzielle Mittel für diesen Zweck zu mobilisieren;.
–          die Umsetzung der Resolution WHA61.4 über die Strategien, um den schädlichen Gebrauch von Alkohol zu reduzieren und WHA58.26 über Probleme der öffentlichen Gesundheit, die durch den schädlichen Gebrauch von Alkohol verursacht werden;

–          sicherzustellen, dass die Umsetzung der Globalen Alkohol-Strategie zur Verminderung des schädlichen Gebrauchs von Alkohol die nationalen Anstrengungen unterstützt, Risikogruppen zu schützen, Jugendliche und jene, die vom schädlichen Alkoholkonsum anderer betroffen sind;-          sicherzustellen, dass die Umsetzung der Globalen Alkohol-Strategie zur Verminderung des schädlichen Gebrauchs von Alkohol im nationalen Beobachtungssystem reflektiert und regelmässig dem Informationssystem der WHO zu Alkohol und Gesundheit berichtet wird;

Nicht-Regierungsorganisationen (NGO’s) in offizieller Beziehung mit der WHO wurde erlaubt, im Plenum der Generalversammlung, am Ende der Debatte, zu sprechen. Drei ergriffen dieses Privileg:

– Der Weltkirchenrat, Aktion für Gesundheit (The World Council of Churches, Action for Health), der ein breites Spektrum von Glaubensgemeinschaften und Netzwerke ziviler Gesellschaften in über 150 Ländern vertritt, unterstützte die Strategie sehr und drängte die WHO, mit deren Umsetzung so rasch als möglich nach der Annahme zu beginnen und sicherzustellen, dass angemessene finanzielle Mittel zur Verfügung stehen würden, um deren Zweck auszuführen. Ganz im klaren darüber, was der Alkohol für Armut und Krankheit bewirkt, haben sie eine wichtige Zusammenarbeit mit der Global Alcohol Policy Alliance entwickelt und sich verpflichtet, mit verschiedenen Gruppen der zivilen Gesellschaft und mit Regierungen zusammenzuarbeiten, um sicherzustellen, dass der öffentlichen Gesundheit die nötige Beachtung in dieser Angelegenheit geschenkt wird.

– The World Medical Association (Intern. Aerzte-Vereinigung) sprach auch im Namen des International Council of Nurses (Intern. Rat des Krankenpflegepersonals), der International Pharmaceutical Federation (Apotheker), die World Confederation for Physical Therapy (Physiotherpeuten) und die World Dental Federation (Zahnarztpersonal), die zusammen die World Health Professional Alliance – WHPA – bilden.
Die Gesundheitsfachleute begrüssten die Strategie sehr, wünschten aber, dass folgende Punkte beachtet würden:
Obwohl die Strategie die Verantwortung des Gesundheits-Sektors bei der Bekämpfung von Alkoholproblemen anerkennt, glaubten sie, dass der Rolle von Gesundheits-Professionellen bei Prävention und Therapie von Alkoholproblemen mehr Beachtung geschenkt werden sollte. Sie unterstrichen die entscheidende Rolle, welche sie auf den Gebieten der Aufklärung, Interessenvertretung und Forschung spielen, wie auch bei der Behandlung. Sie empfahlen eindringlich, dass die Rolle von  wirtschaftlichen Unternehmen – mit starken Eigeninteressen in Produktion und Verkauf von Alkohol und alkoholischen Produkten – bei der Umsetzung der Strategie klar beschränkt werde, so dass Pläne und Programme auf allen Stufen im Interesse der öffentlichen Gesundheit entwickelt werden, unabhängig von wirtschaftlichen Einflüssen. …

– Vertreter der Internationalen Föderation der Medizinstudenten Vereinigung (IFMSA) hielten fest, dass junge Menschen, auch die 1.2 Mio. Medizinstudenten-Mitglieder, durch den schädlichen Gebrauch von Alkohol betroffen sind. Sie glauben, dass eine effektive globale Strategie diese Belastung reduzieren könnte. Die Last alkoholbedingter Krankheiten liegt mehr bei den jungen als bei den älteren Leuten. Von allen mit einer alkoholbedingten Behinderung gelebten Jahren betrafen 34% Personen von 15 bis 29 Jahren, 31% solche von 30 bis 44 Jahren und 22% solche von 45 bis 59 Jahren. Er ist auch ein signifikanter Faktor, der zu Gewalt und ungeschützten Geschlechtsverkehr unter jungen Leuten beiträgt. Die Internationale Föderation der Medizinstudenten Vereinigung unterstützt vehement die Umsetzung von wirksamen Strategien, um den schädlichen Gebrauch von Alkohol zu vermindern.
Als junge Leute und als nächste Generation von Gesundheits-Professionals war die IFMSA vom manipulierenden Marketing der Alkoholindustrie betroffen. Sie sind der Meinung, dass die globale Strategie Wege zeigen sollte, wie die junge Generation vor solchem Marketing beschützt werden kann.
(Quelle: THE GLOBE 1- 2010)