Brussels, 04/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Amsterdam Group (TAG) organised its second forum on "Responsible Drinking" on 20 October by highlighting the behaviour of youth and alcoholic drinks. Participants discussed the most effective ways of making young citizens more responsible. Robert Madelin, director general for health and consumer protection at the European Commission is encouraging the wines and spirits industry to define with other interested parties, common codes of conduct. According to the participants, young Europeans are influenced by their parents and peers and are extremely familiar with all the means of communication but have a critical view on the information they receive. Effective awareness raising tools were mentioned, notably the setting up of internet prevention sites and programmes promoting dialogue between parents and children. At the end of the forum, the president of the Amsterdam Group, Helmut Wagner pointed out that the fight against alcohol-related harm demanded society as a whole to get involved. TAG, which was set up in 1990, proposed to the European Commission that it develop a European Charter on Alcohol Harm Reduction. The Amsterdam Group is an alliance of beer, wine and spirits producers working with governments and interest groups on issues related to alcohol abuse.