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Sep 14 '22, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

European Framework for Action on Alcohol, 2022-2025

Place: Tel Aviv, Isreal, WHO Europe RC73

Time: 11:30 – 12:30 – 60 minutes

Date: September 14, 2022

Objectives

  • Introduce the vision and describe the six priority areas of the Framework for Action on Alcohol, 2022-2025, which are based on best-available evidence
  • Provide opportunities to hear Member States’, youth and civil society perspectives about alcohol consumption and harms and the new Framework
  • Request Member States to adopt the new Framework.

Rationale

  • 1/10 of deaths each year in WHO European Region is caused by alcohol, almost 1 million, many occurring among young people.
  • Alcohol is a causal factor for 200+ diseases, health conditions and injuries, exacerbating existing health inequalities.
  • The new framework provides evidence-based policy guidance to reduce harms due to alcohol consumption.

Background

The Framework has been developed based on extensive engagement of Member States and civil society organizations since 2019, including a series of consultation meetings with Member States in 2019 and 2022, online public consultation and several rounds of review of documents. In addition, at a side event on alcohol control policies at RC71, Member States discussed the importance of increasing their commitment to high impact alcohol policies and the importance of working towards a SAFER WHO European Region free from harm due to alcohol.

Program

Facilitator: Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director, Division of Country Health Programmes at the WHO European Region

Panelists (all in person):

  1. Ms Cathrine Marie Lofthus, Secretary General, Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway
  2. Mrs Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director General, Ministry of Health, Slovenia
  3. Ms Sanja Šišović, CAZAS, Montenegro, Youth representative
  4. Ms Florence Bertelleti, Secretary General, Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance)
  5. Mr Maik Dünnbier, Director of Strategy and Advocacy, Movendi International
  6. Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Part one: Introduction (3 mins)

  • Chair opens the session, introduces Facilitator (Berdzuli) and gives her the floor to provide opening remarks (1 min)
  • Facilitator (Berdzuli) outlines the session, including introducing the video “Alcohol: turning down the flow”. The video will highlight the key priority areas of the Framework and the rationale for these (2 mins)

Part two: Video “Alcohol: Turning down the flow” (2 mins)

Part three: Call to action (19 mins)

  • Facilitator (Berdzuli) introduces the representatives from the Member States (Norway and Slovenia) and asks them to make some brief comments about why the new framework is important and what they hope for it to achieve (1 min)
  • Ms Cathrine Marie Lofthus, Secretary General, Ministry of Health and Care Services,  Norway (3 mins)
  • Mrs Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director General, Ministry of Health, Slovenia (3 mins)
  • Ms Sanja Šišović, CAZAS, Montenegro, Youth representative (2 mins)
  • Ms Florence Bertelleti, Secretary General, Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) (2 mins)
  • Mr Maik Dünnbier, Director of Strategy and Advocacy, Movendi International (2 mins)
  • Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), highlights the links between alcohol and cancer and that there is no risk-free level of alcohol consumption (3 mins)

End of the introductory part

Chair opens the floor for discussion and will use the pre-established list to manage the discussion

Part five: Member States’ contributions (28 mins)

  • Member States’ contributions (27 mins)

Part six: Secretariat (RD) reply (5 mins)

  • RD responds on behalf of the Secretariat (4 mins)

Part seven: Chair calls for adoption of the Decision (2 mins)

  • Chair proposes for the RC to consider and adopt the draft Decision on the European framework for action on alcohol, 2022-2025 (2 mins)