World Health Assembly to discuss alcohol

Ministers from all over the world will discuss the health burden of alcohol at the World Health Assembly on 14-23 May. This follows EU targeted alcohol work after two European Commission reports on alcohol in Europe, highlighting:

• Alcohol is public health enemy #3, behind only tobacco and high blood pressure, and ahead of obesity, lack of exercise or illicit drugs
• Many people suffer due to someone else’s’ drinking – including 5-9 million children living in families damaged by alcohol and the 10,000 ‘innocent’ deaths that occur to bystanders or passengers from drink-drivers
• Alcohol is also estimated to cost Europe €125 billion – equivalent to over €650 for every household each year

This also follows the recently released report Binge Drinking in Europe produced by the Institute of Alcohol Studies