Events > The European Public Health Symposium: Reducing Alcohol Related Harm Through Partnership

Event Details

Title:

The European Public Health Symposium:
Reducing Alcohol Related Harm Through Partnership

Date:

Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Time:

10:00am – 4:10pm

Venue:

One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London

“It is my firm belief that in order to make any real change in the fight against alcohol-related harm, the efforts must be high not only on the public health agenda, but also on the agenda of all stakeholders, including schools, employers, NGOs, alcoholic drinks producers, distributors, the advertising and media industries, local/national authorities, Member States and the European Union.”
— Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health, June 2007

Overview

Although recent statistics indicate that total alcohol consumption in Europe is falling, European citizens are still the highest consumers of alcohol in the world. Furthermore, worrying trends are emerging in relation to binge-drinking, under-age drinking and drink-driving, with the EU’s own statistics on the economic and social cost of alcohol related harm making sobering reading:

Alcohol responsible for 7.5% of all ill-health and early death in EU

60 acute or chronic diseases caused by excessive alcohol consumption

Up to 25% of male premature deaths and up to 10% of female premature deaths caused by excessive alcohol consumption

More than 10,000 deaths a year are due to alcohol-related road accidents

Tangible economic cost in Europe of over €125 billion

In 2006, following a comprehensive consultation process, the European Commission outlined five priority areas which would underpin its Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for Europe:

Protect young people, children and the unborn child

Reduce injuries and death from alcohol-related road accidents

Prevent alcohol-related harm among adults and reduce the negative impact on the workplace

Inform, educate and raise awareness on the impact of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption, and on appropriate consumption patterns

Develop and maintain a common evidence base at EU level

Last year, the Commission established The Alcohol and Health Forum as part of a wider twin-track strategy of complementing national, regional and local public health policy development with an alcohol stakeholder partnership approach at the EU level.

This special European Public Health Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, offers a timely opportunity for public health practitioners, police/enforcement services and local authorities across Europe to gain a valuable update on the EU’s Alcohol Strategy for Europe. Participants will consider the key questions: How can partnership-working be accelerated? How can the current strategy be strengthened to make a positive impact on public health across Europe? Can self-regulation by the alcohol industry work or is legislation needed? Delegates will have the opportunity to debate, share good practice and network with colleagues from across Europe within the public health, local authority, government and alcohol stakeholder landscape.

Programme