Stop the loss of Lives and Billions in Damage: Dozens of Experts Call on Politicians to Limit Alcohol Availability
Ministr zdraví, a member organisation of Movendi International, launched the call and advocacy campaign on the occasion of World Health Day, April 7. The experts are responding to the alarming impacts of alcohol consumption in the Czech Republic and offering specific solutions based on data and proven best practice. The main initiators are the think tanks Ministr zdraví and Racionální politiky závislostí (Rational Addiction Policies) together with the WHO country office in Czechia. In total, 25 renowned institutions, primarily from the fields of healthcare, health promotion, addiction prevention and recovery, including the Czech Medical Chamber, supported the Call.
The theme of World Health Day 2025 was “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”. It focused on the importance of the health of mothers and babies as the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for all.
Alcohol harm is a major obstacle to maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health – as Movendi International is documenting.
Unfortunately, we in the Czech Republic are among the world leaders in alcohol consumption. Every year, 6 to 7 thousand people die due to alcohol, tens of thousands are hospitalized, and the damage also affects our economy,” said Tomáš Šebek, doctor and founder of the think tank Ministr zdraví.
The costs linked with alcohol harm are around 40 to 50 billion annually, which was confirmed by a recent study by Ministr zdraví.”
Tomáš Šebek, doctor and founder, Ministr zdraví
Dr Šebek added that alcohol also endangers children and adolescents – almost half of high school students report high-risk alcohol use. At the same time, it contributes to crime, domestic violence, and family breakdown.
The statistics are alarming, but we must mainly realize that behind each of these numbers there are real people and real lives,” Dr Šebek emphasized.
Most of us have someone in our family, friends or circle of acquaintances in whose fate alcohol played a negative role. We were able to see with our own eyes the devastating impact it can have on an individual and their surroundings. We can never completely prevent similar stories from happening, but we can at least reduce their frequency. That is our main goal.”
Tomáš Šebek, doctor and founder, Ministr zdraví
This year’s World Health Day reminds us that healthy beginnings create a promising future,” said Zsofia Pusztai, Head of the WHO Office in the Czech Republic.
In the Czech Republic, where alcohol is widely available and socially normalised, preventing its use during pregnancy is a major public health challenge.
This Call and joint initiative is an important step towards creating a healthier environment from the very beginning of life – and a strong investment in the health of future generations”
Zsofia Pusztai, Head of the WHO Office in the Czech Republic
Despite the fact that alcohol is a de facto hard drug due to its safety profile, it is widely normalised in Czech society, even when consumed by children,” said Petr Pleva, a member of the board of directors of Racionální politiky závislostí (Rational Addiction Policies think tank).
Therefore, it is important to gradually change the social perception of alcohol, for example by introducing better regulation of advertising for alcoholic beverages or society-wide campaigns, similar to those for tobacco products.”
Petr Pleva, member of the board of directors, Racionální politiky závislostí
Mr Pleva added that other proposed measures can also contribute to reducing alcohol consumption and thus improving public health.
This mainly concerns changing the structure of the excise tax so that its amount takes into account the percentage of alcohol in the drink, limiting the availability of alcohol in self-service stores and at night. It is also important to improve law enforcement,” Mr. Pleva specified.
Petr Pleva, member of the board of directors, Racionální politiky závislostí
That the issue of alcohol is a really hot topic is also confirmed by the fact that a total of 25 renowned institutions support this Call. Our initiative was joined by, for example, the Czech Medical Chamber, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Czech Association of Addictologists and Providers of Addictological Services, the National Association of Patient Organizations, the Czech Chamber of Pharmacists, PAQ Research or the Czech Sokol Community and many others, which we greatly appreciate,” explained Kateřina Hellebrandová, director of the think tank Ministr zdraví.
We all offer politicians a helping hand and will be happy to cooperate on solutions to improve health and the quality of life in our country. We sent this offer, together with the Call, to the Prime Minister and eight key ministries at the end of last week.”
Kateřina Hellebrandová, director, think tank Ministr zdraví
According to Ms. Hellebrandová, there is also a plan to organize a round table on the topic, to which both experts, signatories of the Call, and representatives of political parties will be invited.
Health is in the interest of all of us, without distinction,” concluded Ms. Hellebrandová.
Kateřina Hellebrandová, director of the think tank Ministr zdraví
The Call to protect public health and limit the availability of alcohol was sent to Prime Minister Petr Fial, the Ministry of Health, Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Furthermore, the ministries of education, agriculture, the interior, and transport, as well as the Government Council for Public Health.