THE FUTURE OF ALCOHOL POLICY – Mini-Conference

Mini-Conference

 THE FUTURE OF ALCOHOL POLICY 

 Maximizing the full potential of alcohol policy and accelerating action in Sweden, Europe, and the world 

People want to lead healthy lives, protected from alcohol harm. People want to enjoy thriving communities that promote health and well-being. That’s why support for alcohol policy is strong. In countries that have implemented evidence-based alcohol policy solutions – overcoming opposition of alcohol companies – people experience the benefits and support the policies. 

Country successes, people’s support for ambitious alcohol policy, and growing recognition of the real harm caused by alcohol are all signs for the need to accelerate alcohol policy action as a public health priority: 

• The World Health Assembly adopted a new Global Alcohol Action Plan in May 2022,
• the WHO European region followed up immediately by agreeing a groundbreaking new Framework for Action on Alcohol in September 2022,
• The European Commission included ambitious action on alcohol in the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan in 2021, and
• Countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, Scotland, Ireland, and Norway are showing that alcohol policy improvements are possible and that they bring substantial benefits to people, communities, and societies overall.

With this background, IOGT-NTO and Movendi International, in collaboration with WHO Europe, and civil society partners NTAKK Lithuania, IOGT Poland, and Juvente Estonia are inviting to a 2-day mini conference to discuss the future of alcohol policy and chart an ambitious way forward to maximize the potential of alcohol policy for health, development, and economy. 

This event is supported by the Swedish Institute.

DAY 1 

WHY DO WE NEED AMBITIOUS ALCOHOL POLICY? 

Date: May 3, 2023 

Time: 12.00 – 15.30 

Place: Riksdagen (Swedish Parliament), Stockholm 

Topic: Maximizing the full potential of alcohol policy 

Alcohol harm affects 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals negatively. That means alcohol harm is an obstacle for progress in the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainable development. But it also means that proven alcohol policy solutions hold the potential to boost progress across the SDGs benefiting multiple sectors of society. 

This seminar aims to answer the questions: 

• How can we understand alcohol’s impact on society? 
• What do we know about alcohol industry interference and conflicts of interest?
• What do we know about the potential of alcohol policy for promoting health and development? What are the country experiences and best practices?
• How can we use the full potential of alcohol policy solutions?

 Hosts of the day: 

Ms. Eva Lindh and Mr. Larry Söder (Members of Swedish Parliament) 

DAY 2 

HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT AMBITIOUS ALCOHOL POLICY? 

Date: May 4, 2023 

Time: 10.00 – 14.00 

Place: Europahuset (House of Europe), Stockholm 

Topic: What are opportunities and obstacles for implementing ambitious alcohol policy on all levels 

Alcohol harm remains a major public health, social, and economic problem. WHO data show that almost 1 million people die due to alcohol-related diseases every year in Europe. The products and practices of the alcohol industry remain a key obstacle for reaching better health and development in Europe and the world. 

That’s why people and communities request that alcohol policy is improved and prioritized. This seminar aims to answer questions such as: 

• What is the future of alcohol policy? 
• What are current obstacles?
• What opportunities do exist to advance alcohol policy action?

Registration

Click this link to register.

Download the program

Get the full program here.

PROGRAM DAY 1

WHY DO WE NEED AMBITIOUS ALCOHOL POLICY? 

Date: May 3, 2023 

Time: 12.00 – 15.30 

Place: Riksdagen (Swedish Parliament), Stockholm 

12.00 – 13.30 Workshop – Parliamentarians and alcohol policy (By invitation only) 

• Presentation World Health Organisation: State of the art in alcohol policy knowledge 
• Interactive workshop
  • Parliaments as driving force for alcohol policy improvements
    • Interventions from Members of Parliament from Eva Lindh and Larry Söder (Sweden), Ligita Girskiene (Lithuania), Tereza Novak (Slovenia), John Frimpong Osei (Ghana), and others.
  • Country experiences, challenges, and opportunities
  • The way forward

Fika break 

14.00 – 15.30 Seminar: Maximizing the full potential of alcohol policy (Open for public) 

Opening speech by the hosts Eva Lindh and Larry Söder 

Short presentations:

• Eric Carlin, WHO Europe – What do we know about alcohol harm and alcohol policy solutions 
• Sven Andreasson, researcher – Harm to others 
• Maik Duennbier, Movendi International – Alcohol as obstacle to development 
• Lisa Klefbom, Cancerfonden – Alcohol and cancer 
• Emil Juslin, IOGT-NTO – Big Alcohol’s unethical practices 
• Vesna–Kerstin Petrič (TBC) – Experience from Slovenia 

Panel discussion: needs, challenges, and possibilities to accelerate action 

• Members of Parliament: Eva Lindh and Larry Söder (Sweden), Ligita Girskiene (Lithuania), John Frimpong Osei (Ghana), and others
• As well as civil society, government, and WHO perspectives

Register for the Future of Alcohol Policy mini-conference by clicking on this link by April 25, 2023.

PROGRAM DAY 2

HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT AMBITIOUS ALCOHOL POLICY? 

Date: May 4, 2023 

Time: 10.00 – 14.00 

Place: House of Europe, Stockholm 

Three inter-active panels

10.00 – 11.15 Panel 1 – The International Perspective 

What is needed to fully implement the Global Alcohol Action Plan? 

• Jeff Collin – Global Health Researcher 
• Kristina Sperkova – Movendi International 
• Eric Carlin – WHO Europe 
• Vesna–Kerstin Petrič – Former Director General of the Public Health Directorate, Slovenia (TBC) 

11.15 – 12.10 Panel 2 – The European Perspective 

How can the EU be a voice for public health? 

• Eric Carlin – WHO Europe 
• Jytte Guteland – Member of the Swedish Parliament and former member of the EU Parliament 
• Emil Juslin – IOGT-NTO 

12.10 – 12.45 Lunch (Deltagare på plats bjuds på lunch) 

12.45 – 13.45 Panel 3 – The Swedish Perspective (in Swedish) 

How can Sweden, once again, become a leading country in alcohol policy? (in Swedish) 

• Lena Hallengren – Member of the Swedish Parliament and former Minister of Social Affairs 
• Irma Kilim – IOGT-NTO 
• Systembolaget (TBC) 

Register for the Future of Alcohol Policy mini-conference by clicking on this link by April 25, 2023