Presss Release - Turning popular opinion into public policy Overwhelming majority of Europeans support public policies to reduce alcohol harm

Just recently self-regulation of alcohol industry activities has been put forward as an important element in a new EU Alcohol Strategy. This suggestion comes surprisingly at a time when evidence has made two things clear:

1) Self-regulation does not work.

2) Europeans understand that alcohol is no ordinary commodity and “widely support public policies aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.”

“The alcohol industry has had more than a fair chance to prove self-regulation can work”, says Andrea Lavesson, President of Active – sobriety, friendship and peace. “But all independent evidence shows that self-regulation does not work for preventing alcohol harm. In the face of the fact that Europeans overwhelmingly support policies like, among others, banning alcohol marketing that targets youth, it is time that policy makers turn public opinion into public policy. Europe deserves real regulation to reduce and prevent alcohol harm.” > > > > Read More