WEEKLY ALCOHOL ISSUES
September 13, 2021 – September 17, 2021
This week’s Special Feature: Alcohol taxation in Europe, why we need a joint initiative
In this special feature we explore why the European region needs a joint initiative for alcohol taxation, evidence supporting the effectiveness of alcohol taxation, a case study of Lithuania, and the need for urgent action on alcohol taxation, specifically in the context of building back forward after the coronavirus pandemic.
Alcohol issues from our Policy Newsfeed:
- Civil society steps up to help accelerate alcohol policy action worldwide;
- South Africa lifts parts of its alcohol sales rules as COVID-19 lockdown is eased;
- The government and community of Ireland warn about alcohol and mouth cancer; and
- Marijuana use soars among U.S. college students while alcohol use declines.
Our Big Alcohol Watch exposes:
- The global market concentration of Big Beer in 2020; and
- How the alcohol industry fuels rising liver disease deaths among young Americans.
Alcohol issues from our Science Digest:
- A study explores how Big Alcohol fools consumers with ‘better-for-you’ marketing tactics; and
- Research exposes how the alcohol industry uses the ‘Health Halo’ of ‘better-for-you’ alcohol products.
Our Special Event Alert highlights:
- The 17th annual international INEBRIA Conference.
Alcohol Policy News
Latest Science Digest
Big Alcohol Watch
Special Feature – No. 28
Alcohol Taxation in Europe: Why We Need a Joint Initiative
In this special feature we explore why the European region needs a joint initiative for alcohol taxation, evidence supporting the effectiveness of alcohol taxation, a case study of Lithuania, and the need for urgent action on alcohol taxation, specifically in the context of building back forward after the coronavirus pandemic.
Alcohol pricing policies, such as alcohol taxation, are the least used alcohol policy solutions, despite the heavy alcohol burden and their proven effectiveness. At the same time, alcohol has become more affordable in Europe, not less, and progress on reducing alcohol harm is slow, stagnating or even worse, absent.
Therefore, the European region needs a regional joint initiative for public health-oriented alcohol taxation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus that there is an urgent need to use the most effective tools to prevent and reduce alcohol harm, to strengthen health systems and promote health, and to raise domestic resources. And alcohol taxation will help to prevent deaths and reduce harms, mobilize more government revenue, enable healthcare improvements and reduce inequalities.
Special Event Alert
