What has happened since the EU Alcohol and health strategy was adopted?

Tamsin Rose

Brussels airport welcomes you with a large beer advert

1 September 2007, No alcohol sales day in Lithuania

2001 EU Council Conclusions & Recommendations

Called for the development of a Community strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm addressing following elements:

• continued collection of comparative and comprehensive information and creation of an effective monitoring system on alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harm and policy measures and their effects in the EU;

• development of a range of coordinated Community activities in all relevant policy areas;

• ensuring a high level of health protection in the definition and implementation of Community activities in fields such as research, consumer protection, transport, advertising, marketing, sponsorship and excise duties;

• strengthened cooperation and exchange of knowledge between Member States;

• international cooperation, in particular with the WHO

From the Strategy to the Forum

• October 2006, Commission adopts Strategy on Alcohol and Health. Priorities are to: – protect young people and children and the unborn child;– reduce injuries and deaths from alcohol-related road

accidents;– prevent harm among adults and reduce the negative

impact on the workplace;– raise awareness of the impact on health of harmful alcohol

consumption; and on appropriate consumption patterns– a common evidence base at EU level

• In June 2007, Alcohol and Health Forum launched.

The basics of the Forum

• Main mechanism to implement the Strategy

• Plenary meeting (2 x year)

• Open Forum (1 x year)

• Taskforce on youth-related aspects

• Taskforce on responsible marketing

• Science Group

• Public commitments towards taking action to reduce alcohol related harm by a range of producers, retailers and media organisations.

• (Self) monitoring and reporting of commitments

• Independent Scientific Committee to review the evidence base of intervention

• Opportunity to challenge the relevance of industry activities

• Opportunity to publicly report violations of marketing and advertising codes

Potential gains

Potential risks

• An ongoing and increasing time investment needed to participate in the Forum

• Embeds alcohol industry in EU health debate• Inequalities of input (resources, time), power or

access• Industry gets to choose what action to take• Member States ‘encouraged’ to adopt similar

approach by bringing industry into the debate• Drinks industry ‘named and praised’, get visibility

and recognition for their efforts• NGO actions - being neither new, innovative or

large-scale are ignored

Are there winners and losers?

Finally, an EU alcohol strategy - but limited in scope and rests largely on Member State activities.

Alcohol is firmly on the EU policy agenda - but binding legislation is off the agenda.

The Forum will NOT be the place for policy discussions but both NGOs and industry seek such policy dialogue. Where will this happen?

Industry has to pay the Forum ‘entry price’ of concrete action in order to have take part and get access to DG SANCO. But NGOs face the same barriers and requirements as industry.

There is no attempt or requirement to create balance in numbers of NGO/industry.

Multiple points of entry

EU Institutions

Drinks Trade association

National Chambers of Commerce

EP interest group (beer)

Food industry trade association

Business trade associationRetail trade

associations

Alcohol and Health Forum

Advisory Committees for EU agencies

Advertising Self Regulation bodies

Advertiser and Brand networks

Social Aspect organisations

Think-tanks

Mixed messages in the European Parliament

Pro health: MEPs Against Cancer, Osteoporosis interest group, Breast Cancer Interest Group, MEP Children’s Alliance, MEP Heart Health, Endometriosis Interest Group, Interest group on Carers, Interest group on families and protection of childhood….

Pro alcohol:European Parliament Beer Club, ‘members believe that Europe should have and retain a strong brewing sector and support the positive aspects of beer culture’ Wine-Tradition-Quality Intergroup, members ‘share a common interest: the defence of the European wine sector’

Who speaks up on alcohol policy and whose voices are influential?

Retailing - a key setting for alcohol

In-store tastings Sales promotions - reductions or gifts for multiple purchasesPoint of sale - allocation of prime shelf spaceVending machines

Labelling legislation - a lost opportunity

• January 2008, new draft legislation from Commission on food labelling requires full information about alcoholic drinks. But beer, wine and spirits given a 5 year exemption

• No listing of ingredients or allergens• No health warnings or moderate consumption

messages. What will be the impact on MS that plan to introduce their own labels?

• Alco-pops must list calories

St Valentine’s day text from DG TAXUD

• Legislative proposal to ‘liberalise the movement of alcoholic beverages’. It reintroduces the Commission proposals form 2004 that have been blocked in the Council in 2005.

• Chapter 5: Movement and taxation of excise goods after release for consumption: The Commission plans to simplify the movement of goods bought by individuals for personal consumption in another Member State so that consumers can benefit from lower excise rates by shopping around for cheaper alcohol.

• The Commission wants to increase the possibility of cross border purchase by removing the indicative limits for the authorised quantities and deleting the obligation for the consumer to be present in person for the purchase and transport of the goods.

• Impact of the EU Alcohol and Health Strategy of 2006?

Trends to watch: targeting women

Energy alcohol drinks: youth appeal 500 new energy drink products introduced worldwide in 2006. Overall sales= $3.2 billion

31% of 12-17 year olds are regular consumers vs 22 % of 25-34 age group. One in three teens use energy drinks compared to one in ten adults.

Brand confusion between alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, reduces retail/consumption controls.

US data, 3 alcoholic brands cost less than non-alcoholic brands.

Energy boost masks effect of alcohol. “wide awake drink”. Some evidence leads to greater risks/harm. Source text/photos, Marin Institute 2008

Which ones contain alcohol?

Is this the role of authority?

Taking back the streets

But it is a constant battle

• Alcohol is a European issue in terms of production, marketing, promotion, taxation, trade and health impacts. A consistent European response is needed.

• Enlargement has brought diversity in terms of drinking patterns but also increased the number of low-tax, alcohol producers... This is likely to continue (Croatia, Macedonia).

• The alcohol industry is active in Brussels and seeking economic allies. It is seeking to position itself as a health stakeholder.

Key messages

• How to pick up the issues from the 2001 Council Conclusions that are not addressed in the Forum?

• What, if any, role could the alcohol producers play?• What, if any, role could alcohol retailers play?• What, if any, role could the advertisers play?• What, if any, role could health professionals play?• What if any, role could health NGOs play?

From 2001 to 2009, Sweden in the hot seat