The UK has introduced minimum pricing for alcoholic beverages, which is supported by public health evidence and a move supported by many public health organizations. EPHA encourages the European Commission to propose an EU level minimum pricing in its future EU Alcohol Strategy.
***PRESS RELEASE***
Brussels, 23 03 2012
Alcohol minimum pricing in the UK: will the EU follow up?
Today, 23 March 2012, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Europe’s leading NGO advocating for better health, applauds landmark move by the UK government, introducing minimum pricing for alcoholic beverages and calls for the European Commission to propose them at EU level in its future EU Alcohol Strategy.
“Price plays an important part in consumption levels. And minimum pricing is a very equitable way to curb binge drinking and alcohol related harm as it will primarily affect young people and heavy drinkers.” Welcomed Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of EPHA.
“Excessive alcohol consumption causes significant harm,” further explained Kosinska . “The harm is not restricted to the individual, but also has serious consequences for society in general. The presence of mountains of cheap, readily available alcohol in our supermarkets is no longer acceptable given the associated cost to public well-being.”
“There is a pressing need for a wide range of measures to tackle excessive alcohol consumption. A minimum pricing scheme supported by a number of other measures, such as restrictions on the volume of adverts promoting alcohol, will help turn back our increasingly damaging patterns of consumption. The European Commission is to propose a new European Alcohol Strategy. We look forward to strong proposals that will ensure a level playing field across EU countries.” Concluded Kosinska
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Note to editors
– 1. EPHA is the European Platform bringing together public health organisations representing health professionals, patients groups, health promotion and disease specific NGOs, academic groupings and other health associations. Our vision is of a Europe with universal good health and well-being, where all have access to a sustainable and high quality health system: A Europe whose policies and practices contribute to health, both within and beyond its borders.