A new EU Alcohol Strategy?

The European Union must act to combat alcohol-related harm, a UK House of Lords report issued in March 2015 urged. New action by the EU should focus on measures it can take itself rather than relying on Member State action alone.

Alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of disease and death in Europe, the world region with the highest alcohol consumption per head. The rate of liver-deaths in the UK has nearly quadrupled over the last 40 years.

In 2006 the EU adopted its own Alcohol Strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm. This expired in 2012. The House of Lords Committee has considered whether there should be a new EU strategy.

• Primary Source

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: News, 06.03.15: EU Alcohol Strategy report published http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-home-affairs-sub-committee-f-/news/alcohol-strategy-report-publication/

European Commission: DG Health and Consumers: Public health: Alcohol: Policy http://ec.europa.eu/health/alcohol/policy/index_en.htm

EurActiv, 06.03.15: Lords press Commission to act on alcohol http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/lords-press-commission-act-alcohol-312682

ESO: Background information: MEPs push for alcohol strategy on the EU's health agenda http://www.europeansources.info/record/meps-push-for-alcohol-strategy-on-the-eus-health-agenda/

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: EU Select Committee: News, 05.11.15: Government responds to EU Alcohol Strategy report http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-home-affairs-subcommittee/news-parliament-2015/government-response-alcohol-strategy/

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