EURAD supports call for a comprehensive Alcohol Policy Strategy in the European Union - Eurad

EURAD has together with 84 other NGOs signed the call for a new Alcohol Policy Strategy. The signatories would like to call on the Ministries of Health across 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 the NGOs urge them to put forward a request to the European Commission for a future European Alcohol Strategy 2013-2020.

Mariann Skar, Secretary General of Eurocare, who helped to co-ordinate the call, is very happy for the broad commitments from all over Europe. “This is a very clear signal to both the Member States and the European Commission of the need for an alcohol strategy after 2012”

Fay Watson, Secretary General of EURAD, who supports the call, said: "It's incredibly important to keep in place a European emphasis on alcohol policy. Polydrug use, which includes the combination of both illicit drugs and alcohol, has become the most dominant pattern of drug use in Europe, as was recently reported by the EMCDDA in their annual report. We need to recognise the interlinkages between the usage of different types of substances and ensure that appropriate action is taken at the EU level".

A copy of the call and a list of signatories is available here.