UNGA78 High Level Side Event: ALCOHOL POLICY AS CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ALCOHOL POLICY AS CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Unlocking the potential of alcohol policy solutions to reach health and development for all

United Nations General Assembly 78 High-Level Side Event – on the margin of the SDG Summit and UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage 2023

Date and time

• September 21, 2023
• 13.30 – 15.00

Place

• Church Center of the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, USA (opposite the UN Headquarters)

Registration link

Please register for the event by using this registration link.

Event flyer

Download event flyer and detailed description

Background

The first half the era of the Sustainable Development Goals has not yielded significant progress towards reaching development and health for all and leaving no one behind.

One of the biggest obstacles to reaching the SDGs is alcohol.

• Alcohol harm is a major obstacle to reaching 14 of 17 SDGs.
• Alcohol’s contribution to the global burden of disease has been increasing.
  • In high income countries alcohol use is the second fasted growing risk factor, and
  • In LMICs it is the fourth fastest rising risk factor for the global disease burden.
• Alcohol is the second largest risk factor for disease burden in the age group 10-24 years. And alcohol is the largest risk factor for disease burden in the group 25-49 years.

With some notable exceptions, most countries have failed to develop public health oriented alcohol policy in the last decade.

Modelling forecasts that global targets to reduce alcohol use and harm will not be met.

• Without action,Africa could see an increase in both the absolute number and proportion of people consuming alcohol, the amount consumed per capita and heavy episodic alcohol use.
• Southeast Asia has seen a29% increase in per capita alcohol use since 2010.
• Out of 51 countries in the WHO European Region, only 16 reached the target of a 10% reduction of overall alcohol consumption between 2010-19. But 17 countries saw increases in alcohol use. Almost no progress was achieved since 2016 in the implementation of Best Buys alcohol policy solutions.
• Alcohol remains highly affordable in the WHO Americas region. Between 2012-16, per capita consumption among alcohol users only increased, with 1 in 5 alcohol users consuming heavily.

Member States of the World Health Organizations have recognized the lack of progress and identified alcohol as public health priority with urgent need to accelerate action. In 2022, Member States unanimously adopted the Global Alcohol Action, with a renewed focus on the most cost-effective, high-impact, and scientifically proven alcohol policy solutions.

In all WHO regions, there are countries that are implementing proven alcohol policy solutions and their results are creating new momentum, showing the potential of alcohol policy for reaching health and development for all.

Objectives

This event aims to take stock of key challenges in developing and implementing evidence-based and ambitious alcohol policy solutions. How can those challenges be overcome?

The event will showcase best practices from countries and provide a platform for discussion, and experience sharing.

The discussion will chart benefits of cross-border and international collaboration among member states, and the potential of technical support and normative guidance from the World Health Organization.

The event will outline the role of communities in the implementation of the global alcohol action plan to help ensure ambitious action and achieve progress that benefits all.

Audience

The target audience of this high-level side event during UNGA and on the margins of the SDGs Summit and the High-Level Meeting on UHC is member states, as well as leaders of civil society organizations, academia, and UN agencies and programs.

Program

Moderator: Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International

• Welcome and opening by the moderator

High level segment

Deep dive segment

Interactive segment

Closing, by moderator

Co-sponsors

• Norway
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Slovakia
• Ghana
• Movendi International
• Movendi New York