The Swedish presidency in support of a sustainable EU Alcohol Strategy Karin Nilsson Kelly Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Why keep alcohol high on the EU and global agenda? Estimated to cause about 2.3 million premature deaths worldwide In the EU 195 000 deaths a year 55 million adults are estimated to drink at harmful levels

Why? Harmful alcohol use is a cause of some 60 different diseases and conditions Exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can impair babies’ brain development Young people’s drinking habits are becoming more harmful

Why Excessive alcohol consumption harms not just the drinker 6-12 % children in families with alcohol related problems Accidents on roads and at workplaces Violence and crime Increases inequality in health

2009, an important year for alcohol policy at EU and Global level High priority during the Swedish EU Presidency WHO works to present a draft global strategy First Global Expert Meeting on Alcohol, Health and Social Development in Stockholm 23 September

Our main objectives: To keep the alcohol issue high on the EU agenda To increase Member States long term support of the Alcohol Strategy To support the implementation To ensure Stakeholders support

Three major events during the Swedish Presidency 2009 The Informal Ministerial Meeting 6-7 July in Jönköping, Expert Meeting on Alcohol and Health 21-22 September, Stockholm EPSCO November – aming at Council Conclusion

The Presidency Expert Meeting Special focus on Protection of Children and young people Commercial communication Harmful alcohol use – a threat to a dignified and healthy ageing? Price and Affordability Parallell Program – NGO’s and EU networks

Children at risk Alcohol consumption and pregnancy What do we know about FAS/FASD Children in families with alcohol problems What can be done at EU level

Commercial Communication Update on new developments Longerm exposure of advertising of alcoholic beverages Social Marketing Regulation or Self Regulation? The role of Economic Operators

Alcohol and Elderly The impact of harmful use of alcohol on ageing people Ongoing EU projects and in MS A possible future scenario

Price and Affordability Purchasing power Alcohol and Injuries Minimum Pricing – a new price policy measure? Costs and Economic benefits Price and Excise Duty differences – threat to public health policy?

Parallell Program In cooperation with NGO’s on national and EU level Exibition, seminairs and study visits Interaction between programs

Global Expert Meeting 23 of September, Stockholm, Sweden Focus on Harmful use of alcohol’s role in social development and its contribution to spreading of infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, Pneumonia) Organized by the Swedish health Minstry in collaboration with WHO SIDA (Swedish International Development cooperation Agency) and the Norwegian Health Ministry

Thank you! Contact information: Karin.nilsson-kelly@social.ministry.se www.government.se www.regeringen.se

The informal Ministerial Meeting Focus on Commercial Communication in particular new channels, new products and features attractive to young people. The development since 2001

How? target important “drivers” of alcohol related health and social harms, Special focus on protection of young people and the unborn child

Sustained and long-term prevention needed More and more a cross-border issue EU network been a good platform for exchange of data, research and good practises DG SANCO first report 2009

Main objectives… To ensure Stakeholders support To strengthen assessment, the knowledge base and the implementation of common indicators