Policy action to prevent and reduce alcohol harm is uneven in WHO member states and after 10 years since its adoption implementation of the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy (GAS) is not on par with the magnitude of the global alcohol burden. Therefore, in the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) held in February 2020, Member States called for accelerated action to tackle alcohol harm, as per decision EB146 (14).
Movendi International has conducted a thorough analysis of the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy, as part of its contribution to the review process in 2019 and in order to help chart the way forward. Movendi’s analysis shows that the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy – despite having facilitated some success – is ineffective, inadequate and in parts outdated.
The Executive Board, in its decision, requested the WHO Director-General, inter alia, the following:
- Develop an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy as a public health priority, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, for consideration by the 75th World Health Assembly through the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board in 2022.
- Develop a technical report on cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotion issues, including targeting of youth and adolescents, before the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board, which could contribute to the development of the action plan.
- Adequately resource the work on alcohol harm.
As part of its response to decision EB146 (14), the WHO Secretariat has launched a web-based consultation from November 16 to December 6, 2020 on a working document for development of the action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations, as well as non-state actors.
Access the consultation here. Access the working document of the action plan here.
Full schedule of operations undertaken by the WHO in response to the Executive Board decision
- March – April 2020: Commissioning of the scoping review on alcohol harm related to cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities, including targeting youth and adolescents. Commissioning background papers for the report development.
- ÂApril – May 2020: Producing zero draft of the working document for development of an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global strategy on alcohol with proposed essential elements and components.
- ÂJune 2020: Technical expert meetings organized by WHO headquarters to discuss zero draft of the working document for development of the action plan and the content of the technical report on the alcohol harm related to cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities.
- ÂJuly – October 2020: Finalization of the working document for subsequent consultation process.
- 16 November – 6 December 2020: Web-based consultation on the working document for development of the action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations, and non-State actors. All relevant feedback received will be published on WHO website.
- ÂJanuary – March 2021: Regional technical consultations with Member States on the working document for development of the action plan (2022-2030).
- ÂMarch – April 2021: Development of the first draft of the action plan based on the input received on the working document in the process of the regional consultations.
- April – June 2021: The web-based consultation on the first draft of the action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations, and non-State actors. All relevant feedback received will be published on WHO website. Discussion of the first draft at the Third WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviors attended by technical focal points from Member States, representatives of UN entities, civil society organizations, WHO collaborating centers, and academia. Consultation with economic operators in alcohol production and trade on their contribution to reducing the alcohol harm within their core roles. An informal consultation with Member States on the first draft of the action plan.
- ÂJuly – August 2021: Development of the second draft of the action plan based on the feedback received on the first draft during the previous stages of the consultation process.
- ÂAugust – November 2021: Briefings on the second draft of the action plan organized at the Regional Committee meetings. Release of the technical report on alcohol harm related to cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities, including targeting youth and adolescents, with a summary of main findings and conclusions available in six languages. A formal meeting of Member States for consideration of the second draft of the action plan. Finalization of the draft action plan taken into consideration feedback and inputs received from Member States and other stakeholders during the consultation process in April -October 2021. Development and submission of the report by the Secretariat to 150th session of the Executive Board.
- ÂJanuary – February 2022: The 150th session of the WHO Executive Board will consider the report of the WHO Director-General containing the draft action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global Alcohol Strategy.
Sources
WHO: “Developing a Global action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol“
WHO: “WHO to accelerate action to reduce the harmful use of alcohol“
