EUROCARE 4th European Alcohol Policy Conference Brussels, 21-22 June 2010

1. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy ConferenceBrussels, 21-22 June 2010 Dr Michel Craplet Chairman Eurocare Senior Medical Adviser ANPAA

2. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference Alcohol policy should be comprehensive in • addressing health and social problems • involving citizens from all Europe, young and old, rich and poor • using legislation and education • being aware of / and responsive to science and culture Alcohol policy should face the challenge of complexity where • more and more countries are involved, • more and more actors are concerned. The cultural dimension should reflect cultural diversities, as opposed to globalisation The cultural dimension should be used in prevention

3. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Once upon a time, things were simple

4. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Now, things are more complicated

5. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Building European Union

6. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Traditional Europe was divided in two dinking cultures - north and south - • New Europe enlarged and changed with the integration into the European Union of countries from Eastern Europe - Western fringe of Europe - Central Europe - And exceptions like France (with the loi Evin and the warning label on the risk of drinking during pregnancy)

7. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference Europe is now a mosaic of drinking cultures. Studying closely the drinking patterns, we can also observe - many differences inside each region - and some similarities across Europe

8. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Alcohol trade in Europe

9. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Circulation of consumers and commodities

10. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Health and alcohol in European treaties • Maastricht treaty (articles 3, 95, 129) : “The activities of the Community should include … a contribution to the attainment of a high level of health protection.” • Amsterdam treaty (article 152). • In both cases, however, the article 95 on the internal market should be respected. Harmonization of legislations is authorized only to comfort the internal market (article 95) • Lisbon treaty (article 152) : “The European Parliament and the Council… may also adopt… measures which have as their direct objective the protection of public health regarding tobacco and the abuse of alcohol, excluding any harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States.”

11. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference European institutions results on alcohol policy • Limitation of production of wines • Labelling of alcoholic degree content on every container • Resolution of European Council (29/05/1986) on alcohol abuse • Recommendation of European Council (5/06/2001) on consumption by young people • Conclusion of European Council (5/06/2001; renewed in 2004) on the necessity to implement a strategy • Support of programs and conferences by the Commission • Decisions by the European Court of Justice Loi Evin justified by the aim of protecting public Scandinavian monopolies accepted • An incentive was given by the declaration of Parliament (signed by 201 members) on Alcopops and Designer Drinks in 1996 at the initiative of Eryl McNally, MEP. • The Strategy on alcohol was adopted by the Commission in 2006, and in 2007, was set the Alcohol and Health Forum.

12. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference Limits to the European work • Political limits • Institutional limits Subsidiarity : The EU should only act if the aims can be better achieved on a European level rather than a local or national one Proportionality : The EU should take care that the means employed do not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the aim • Methodological limits Legislation cannot solve problems by itself Prevention is a mix of control and education.

13. EUROCARE4th European Alcohol Policy Conference • Difficulties, ambivalence, incoherence ?