30 years of European alcohol policy
| Published date | 05 December 2019 |
| Date | 05 December 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-07-2019-0076 |
| Pages | 266-268 |
| Author | Aleksandra Kaczmarek,Sandra Tricas-Sauras,Mariann Skar |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
30 years of European alcohol policy
Aleksandra Kaczmarek, Sandra Tricas-Sauras and Mariann Skar
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to present development in the alcohol policy area in Europe in the last
30 years.
Design/methodology/approach –Description of policy instruments and analysis of legal basis are used in
this study.
Findings –Progress has been achieved in some areas; however, as complicated policy areas, it requires
constant effort and engagement of all public health actors.
Research limitations/implications –Continuous advocacy effort leads to increased policy actions,
interest and research in the area. Lack of policy instruments jeopardises the future of the field.
Practical implications –This study provides a brief overview of policy landscape and aims to spark readers
interest in the alcohol policy.
Originality/value –This study provides an overview of a policy field, not only looking at the legal basis but
also meshing with the experience of working in an alliance of civil society organisations.
Keywords Alcohol, Europe, Law, SDGs, Alcohol policy
Paper type Viewpoint
Full opinion/policy review
Every day, about 800 people in Europe die from alcohol-attributable causes (WHO Europe, 2018,
Monitoring of national policies related to alcohol consumption and harm reduction (MOPAC)
project reports). The main cause of death due to alcohol in 2016 was cancer (29 per cent of
alcohol-attributable deaths), followed by liver cirrhosis (20 per cent), CVD (19 per cent) and injury
(18 per cent). Nearly half of male population engage in heavy episodic drinking and more than
60 per cent of adolescents (15–19) are drinkers. Average European consumes 9.9 litres of pure
alcohol per year.
The European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) is an alliance of non-governmental and public
health organisations across Europe advocating for the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related
harm. Member organisations are involved in advocacy and research, the provision of information
and training on alcohol issues, and services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol problems.
Eurocare’s mission is to promote policies that prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm. To
achieve that we are working to raise awareness among decision makers of the harms caused by
alcohol (social, health and economic burden) and striving to ensure that these are taken into
account in all relevant EU policy discussions. Our message regarding alcohol consumption is
that “less is better”. Eurocare is not affiliated to and does not receive any funding from the alcohol
industry or any of its social aspect organisations.
Eurocare was created in 1990, as concerns grew over the impact of the single market on national
alcohol policies. Over the last 30 years, Eurocare grew from few enthusiasts to a network of
around 55 organisations in 23 countries. As the recognition of the importance of health issues
has moved forward on the European political agenda, it gradually allowed emphasising the issue
of alcohol-related harm.
Over the years, Eurocare advocated for policies following the WHO priority actions of
cost-effective policy options:
■using taxation to help regulate demand for alcoholic beverages;
Received 30 July 2019
Revised 30 July 2019
Accepted 9 August 2019
Aleksandra Kaczmarek,
Sandra Tricas-Sauras and
Mariann Skar are all based at
European Alcohol Policy
Alliance, Brussels, Belgium.
PAGE266
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JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
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VOL. 18 NO. 4 2019, pp. 266-268, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/JPMH-07-2019-0076
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