WHO: advocating pro-control alcohol policy worldwide

Wines & Vines,  April, 2005  by Elisabeth Holmgren

Tags: World Health Organization

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The U.S. And Global Alcohol Policy Trend

Many groups in the U.S., including the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), echo calls for most of the above measures. While some social research studies contradict the above findings, they are rarely highlighted, so that the messages set forward by WHO and other authoritative bodies around the world will lead to a more restrictive environment for alcohol beverages. This is due to the increasing concerns associated with excessive and binge drinking, as well as underage drinking.

The latter is the most visible fear in the U.S., and Congress commissioned NAS to formulate a report on how to best prevent under-age drinking. In fact, the report outlined policy recommendations such as increased taxes through the following advice, "Congress and state legislatures should raise excise taxes to reduce under-age consumption and to raise additional revenues for this purpose. Top priority should be given to raising beer taxes, and excise tax rates for all alcoholic beverages should be indexed to the consumer price index, so that they keep pace with inflation without the necessity of further legislative action." The overall mission of the NAS report outlined a proposed strategy that calls for the "development of a national campaign to engage adults in a concerted effort to stop 'enabling or ignoring' youth drinking."

The proposed U.S. strategy also calls on the alcohol industry to enter a partnership with government and other private funders to implement a coordinated, evidence-based approach to reducing under-age drinking. With these types of developments we can anticipate a stronger pro-control alcohol policy movement here and abroad that will promote increased taxes and advertising restrictions, as are already very evident in the U.S. As part of this trend, we can also anticipate intensified messages on the serious health and social consequences associated with alcohol consumption in the U.S. and societies around the world.

To access the papers, visit these Web sites:

* World Health Organization Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/Alcohol%20Policy%20Report.pdf

* National Academy of Sciences reportbooks.nap.edu/execsumm_pdf/10729.pdf

RELATED ARTICLE: Alcohol Education Should Be Relevant And Targeted

A newly released report by the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) recommends that educational measures can be effective in addressing alcohol problems, but are much more likely to work if they are based on realistic, defined goals; are directed toward "at-risk" populations such as youth or pregnant women and involve families, peers and the community at large.

"Education needs to be relevant to people's lives," according to Dr. Marcus Grant, ICAP president. "You need to be able to relate to the advice you are given. Attitudes, especially among young people, strongly influence whether education is effective."

"Alcohol Education and Its Effectiveness" is the 16th in a series of reports on alcohol and society published by ICAP. It is available online at icap.org.