Brussels, 03/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - After the Latvian Presidency had envisaged, as part of its health priorities, discussing the misuse of alcohol, the European parliament's environment committee adopted a draft resolution on Thursday 29 January regretting that no new strategy had been brought forward by the European Commission.
The 2006 strategy was due to be updated in 2013 but, hitherto, the Juncker Commission has no plans to this effect, Parliament bemoans. Some MEPs, such as Glenis Willmott (S&D, UK), heavily engaged in combatting alcohol abuse, feel that the Commission has failed to give any valid reason for not revising the strategy.
Following the Parliamentary debate, The Brewers of Europe association published a press release in which it repeated its support for the current strategy to support member states in reducing alcohol-related harm. The external evaluation of the current EU strategy was extremely positive, concluding that the priorities and approach remained relevant, whilst also proposing a strengthening of the existing mechanisms, the association states. The Brewers of Europe supports this call for a reinvigoration of the current strategy rather than a totally new approach. The current EU strategy focuses on alcohol misuse, addressing the problems caused by harmful drinking patterns and targeting the vulnerable minority who either drink to excess or should not drink at all. Moderate beer consumption by healthy adults can be fully compatible with a balanced lifestyle, highlighting the importance of promoting responsible drinking, the brewers argue. The beer sector also reaffirmed its commitment in 2012 with the adoption of a European Beer Pledge that focuses on consumer information, marketing self-regulation and campaigns against alcohol misuse. (IL)