1. EUROCARE European Alcohol Policy Alliance Health Challenges in Europe P2P study tour 15 January 2009 Mariann Skar Secretary General Eurocare Secretariat, Brussels

2. Presentation Eurocare Background for EU action EU Alcohol Strategy EU Forum Alcohol and Health Labelling Alcohol and Pregnancy Drink driving Way Forward European Alcohol Policy

3. EUROCARE Eurocare was formed in1990 with 9 member org Today: 48 member org 21 countries Secretariat in Brussels

4. Eurocare activities Raise awareness and engage in dialogue with policy makers Promote the development and implementation of evidence-based policies Monitor policy developments Collection, collate, analysis, dissemination and utilisation of data Exchange of information, experience and good practice

5. Eurocare Web site New Eurocare Website

6. Burden of ill health EU 2004 Attributable to selected leading risk factors

7. The Burden of Alcohol at EU level Intentional injuries – 2000 homicides (4 in 10) and 10000 suicides (1 in 6) Unintentional injuries – 17.000 deaths drink driving (1 in 3), 27 000 accidental deaths Family – 5 – 9 million children Crime – €33bn Workplace - € 5 -19bn Healthcare - € 17bn

8. Many babies in Europe are prenatally exposed to alcohol Harm to the unborn child; Estimate 1 to 3 per 1000 full FAS 10 to 12 per 1000 FASD Netherlands: 35-50% of pregnant women drink Spain: 45% of babies in Barcelona heavily exposed Ireland: 63% of women drink during pregnancy

9. Harm done by alcohol to children 5 – 9 million children (9%) live in families adversely affected by alcohol. 16% of cases in child abuse involves alcohol 23% of all deaths in children aged 0-15 from motor vehicles are due to alcohol 19% of all child homicides are due to alcohol

10. Harm to young people 13 000 young men and 2000 women die in the EU each year due to alcohol 350 000 15-16 year old report fights 220 000 students report contact with police 700 000 15-16 year old suffers due to parents drinking 5% of 15-16 year old report regretted sex

11. Inequality of health Life expectancy at birth, years Best:M 77,9SwedenF 83,6 Spain Worst:M 65,7Latvia F 75,9 Latvia Number of death children ≤ 1 pr 100 000 Best2,7 Liechtenstein Worst9,4 Latvia 21,5Romania Road accidents pr 100 000 BestM 6,2Malta WorstM 41Lithuania

12. EU Alcohol Strategy The Communication recognises different cultural habits related to alcohol consumption in the various MS There is no intention to substitute Community action to national policies, NO proposal to the development of harmonised legislation

13. The Strategy Aims at: Mapping actions already in place Identifying good practices / areas further progress Explains how Commission can further support and complement MSts

14. 5 Priority Themes 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 Common evidence base at EU level.

15. EU Alcohol and Health Forum overall objective: provide common platform for all interested stakeholders at EU level willing to step up actions (“commitments”) aimed at reducing alcohol harm main areas to be addressed: under age drinking information on effect of harmful drinking responsible drinking/promote behavioural changes consumer information commercial communication

16. A Forum for Action: Composition NGO’s: 21 Eurocare, EPHA, ECL, EMA, EMNA, ETSC, CPME, FEANTSA, EYF, ReLEAF, NordAn, APYN Economic operators: 30 Alcohol Producers: Brewers of Europe, Spirits Organization Retailers: EuroCommerce Advertisers and Publishers: WFA, EGTA, FAEP Organizations: COPA- COGECA, CEEV, EPC, ESA Social Aspects Organizations: EFRD Industry research: IREB, ICAP Observers: The European Parliament, EU Member States, WHO, The Economic and Social committee, The Committee of the regions, International Organisation of Vine and Wine

17. 17/33 EU Alcohol and Health Structure Plenary Session Open Forum Science Group Task Force on youth-specific aspects of alcohol Task Force on Marketing Communication

18. Labelling- Food information  30.1.2008 EC adopted the Proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers  Based on: Council Directive 90/496/EEC (amended in 2003/120/EC) and Council Directive 2000/13/EC  From 2003 consultations with stakeholders on both general and food labelling  Impact Assessments

19. EC proposal on Food Labelling including alcoholic beverages  Alcoholic beverages like beer, wine and spirit are excluded from ingredients listing and nutrition labelling  Mixed alcoholic beverages will have such labels (like orange juice) However – a report is to be prepared 5 years after adoption

20. Eurocare position Eurocare position is: All alcoholic beverages should be required to state: Ingredients‘, Substances with allergenic effect, Relevant nutrition information like Energy value (kcal), Alcoholic strength (total grams), Health and safety warnings Partnership with EPHA, EHN, BEUC and other NGOs

21. Way forward on labelling MEP Renate Sommer (EPP-ED, DE) Rapporteur 13 October Opinion out November/December Discussion 7 January – Deadline for amendments 16-17 February Discussion April/May Vote on Report in ENVI – ? Plenary

22. Health Warnings  Pre-tested health warnings determined by the European Institutions or MS  Rotating Health Warnings on;  Pregnancy – Commitment by Pernod Ricard  Driving  Operating machinery  Taking antibiotics  Risk of dependence  Health (liver cirrhosis, cancers etc)  Mental health, injuries, violence

23. French pictogram – since October 2007 All alcoholic packages require either: pictogram or ”Consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy even in small amounts can seriously damage the child’s health”

24. Health Warnings

25. Commercial Communication AMS Dir (2007/65/EC) Commercial communications: Art 15 - TV advertising & teleshopping for AB: may not be aimed specifically at minors or, depict minors consuming; not create impression consumption contributes towards social or sexual success; shall not place emphasis on high alcoholic content as being a positive quality of the beverages.

26. These ads appeared in French newspapers during the world Rugby cup in October 2007 and broke the French advertising law

27. Drink Driving 1 of 3 road fatalities in EU due to alcohol 0,2gr/l BAL for young and novice drivers 0,5gr/l BAL Intensive random breath testing Availability and affordability Drink Driving 1 of 3 road fatalities in EU due to alcohol 0,2gr/l BAL for young and novice drivers 0,5gr/l BAL Intensive random breath testing Availability and affordability

28. Binge Drinking Need for definition, proposal 60 gr alcohol men and 40 gr alcohol women 75% of EU citizens aged 15+ consum and of these 28% reported drinking more than 5 drinks on 1 occassion 37% men and 18% women binge drink once per week. Binge Drinking Need for definition, proposal 60 gr alcohol men and 40 gr alcohol women 75% of EU citizens aged 15+ consum and of these 28% reported drinking more than 5 drinks on 1 occassion 37% men and 18% women binge drink once per week.

29. Way Forward Continue to work on labelling, affordability, availability, commercial communication, taxes, safer drinking environments and awareness raising. See web site for events: 30.4 OPEN DAY under EU Alcohol and Health Forum 9.9 – Alcohol and pregnancy conference 21 – 23.9.2009 Swedish Presidency Expert conference

30. EUROCARE European Alcohol Policy Alliance www.eurocare.org Secretariat Telephone: +32 2 736 05 72 Email: info@eurocare.org Mariann Skar, Secretary General Ruth Ruiz, Policy and Communications Officer Emilie Rapley, Policy and Public Affairs Officer