The harm that alcohol consumption causes to individuals, families and society as a whole and the possible policies that could be adopted by Turkey and other countries are being discussed at a global two-day symposium that started in İstanbul on Friday.
The inauguration ceremony of the event, titled the “Global Alcohol Policy Symposium,” was held at the Haliç Congress Center on Friday. The symposium was organized by the Green Crescent Society (Yeşilay) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, Parliament and the Ministry of Health and is co-sponsored by the World Health Association (WHO).
The symposium is expected to host 1,200 health experts representing 53 countries over Friday and Saturday.
Giving the opening speech of ceremony, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has never intervened in what people wear, do, eat or drink at all since it came to power. He stressed that the government, however, has the responsibility to protect its young citizens from the destructive effects of alcohol consumption as Article 58 of the Constitution says the state shall take the necessary measures to protect young people from addiction to alcohol and drugs, gambling and similar weaknesses.
The prime minister stated that they are examining the alcohol control programs of developed countries and also working with nongovernmental organizations to determine effective steps to decrease the alcohol abuse in those countries. > > > > Read More
