Events and activities

Global Alcohol Policy Alliance is co-host of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference held every two years. GAPA holds and participates in numerous other events, some of which are outlined below.

GAPC 2026 held in Rio de Janeiro

The 8th Global Alcohol Policy Conference – GAPC 2026 – was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 8-10, 2026.  The GAPC was co-hosted with ACT Brazil, Vital Strategies, ABEAD, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

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GAPC 2026 website

Ancestors talk

This Inaugural Indigenous Pre-conference Event was held in conjunction with the Global Alcohol Policy Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 7 April 2026.
Since 2023, the GAPA has been actively pursuing opportunities to increase Indigenous participation and presence at the Global Alcohol Policy Conferences (GAPC) and to support Indigenous-led aspirations on preventing and reducing alcohol harm in the global policy space.

Read the report from the event

GAPA General Assembly adopts new structure

(3 September 2024) After 24 years of operation, GAPA has taken a next step to adjust the organisational structure. Today GAPA held its Constitutive General Assembly that adopted the new structure with the intention to create an association under the Swiss Civil Code.

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GAPC Overview

Every two to three years GAPA co-hosts the Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) together with local hosts. The 7th GAPC was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2023. The 8th GAPC is planned for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in April 2023.

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Previous events

2024-2026

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Ancestors talk

This Inaugural Indigenous Pre-conference Event was held in conjunction with the Global Alcohol Policy Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 7 April 2026.

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GAPC 2026 held in Rio de Janeiro

The conference in Brazil had the theme: Public Health and the commercial determinants of alcohol harm: responses by governments and civil Society. It maintains the tradition of focusing on governments efforts in development of the most effective alcohol policies,  advocacy for such policies, overcoming vested interests and the need for regional and global collaboration to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.

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GAPA General Assembly adopts new structure

(3 September 2024) After 24 years of operation, GAPA has taken a next step to adjust the organisational structure. Today GAPA held its Constitutive General Assembly that adopted the new structure with the intention to create an association under the Swiss Civil Code.

Read more

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RESET Alcohol Partner Meeting held in Mexico City

Three representatives from the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) joined the recent partner-meeting for the RESET Alcohol initiative. The meeting focused on progress in project countries and the strong evidence for alcohol taxation as a win-win measure to reduce alcohol harm and generate revenue.

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2020-2024

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Successful GAPC 2023 held in Cape Town

The 7th Global Alcohol Policy Conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa 24 – 26 October 2023. 521 participants from 55 countries attended the rich program over three days under the headline “Investing in people before profits: building momentum towards the Framework Convention on Alcohol Control”.

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GAPA Virtual Event 2022

GAPA Virtual Event 12-13 October 2022 offered interactive sessions in three different time zones. Each day there was a session with key-note speakers which was followed by a regional session with comments from a panel of regional representatives and discussion among participants. Video keynote presentations are available.

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GAPA Virtual Event 2021

The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance Virtual Event 2021 was held 12-14 October 2021. The event offered three interactive sessions each day in different time zones. See the keynote presentations, a report from the discussions and comments provided during the event.

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GAPA Global online forum

GAPA hosted a series of online discussions on Workplace post GAPC 2020.

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GAPC 2020 in Dublin, Ireland

The 6th Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) was held in Dublin Ireland in 9-11 March 2020.

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2018-2019

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GAPA active at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2019

Several GAPA representatives participated in the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) in Bangkok, 31 January – 3 February.

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Framework Convention on Alcohol Control: Why and How?

GAPA co-hosted two side meetings at PMAC in Bangkok Thailand, 29-30 January 2019

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Other meetings 2018

GAPA involvement in miscellaneous events in 2018

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The Great Debate

On 2 October 2018 GAPA Chair Professor Sally Casswell debated with Scott Ratzan of the AB InBev Foundation about the opportunities and challenges of private-sector collaborations with academic public health in an event organised by the Boston University School of Public Health.

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Meeting between Global Fund and NGOs concerned over Heineken partnership

Meeting between Global Fund, GAPA, IOGT International and NCD Alliance regarding Global Fund partnership with Heineken .

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2015-2017

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Other events 2015-2017

Miscellaneous events 2016-2017

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GAPC 2017 Mobilising for change

GAPC 2017, Mobilising for change: Alcohol policy and the evidence for action, was held from 4-6 October 2017 in Melbourne, Australia.

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WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviour

WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviour, 26-28 June 2017, Geneva, Switzerland.

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Curbing industry marketing of harmful products to young people

Seminar 26 August 2016: “Curbing industry marketing of harmful products to young people” in Cape Town, with Health Promotion and Development Foundation Network, South Africa.

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World Health Assembly side event discusses alcohol marketing

A side event on “Alcohol Marketing in the Digital World” was held at the World Health Assembly in Geneva 26 May 2016, where GAPA Chair, Professor Sally Casswell, spoke

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GAPC 2015 in Edinburgh

GAPC 2015 with the theme “Momentum for change: research and advocacy reducing alcohol harm” was held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 7-9 October 2015.

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2010-2014

GAPA meeting in Brazil

16 May 2014, Meeting in Brazil: Seminário Internacional; Álcool & Violência a Influência da industria do álcool, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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GAPC 2013 in Seoul, South Korea

GAPC 2013 was held in Seoul South Korea 7-9 October 2013 with the topic “Alcohol; Civil Society and Public Health – From Local and National Action to Global Change”.

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WHO-NGO Dialogue meeting on NCDs

30 April 2012, 2nd NCD NGO Dialogue meeting, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

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GAPC 2012, Nonthaburi, Thailand

GAPC 2012 was held 13–15 February 2012, with the theme “From Global Strategies to Local Actions” in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

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Other meetings in 2011

GAPA’s Chair and Secretary were represented in a number of other events during 2011.

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UN High Level Meeting on NCDs

19–20 September 2011, New York, USA, UN High-level meeting on NCDs.

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Civil Society NCD Hearing

16 June, Civil Society Informal Interactive Hearing on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, United Nations, New York, USA

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2005-2009

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WHO Roundtable meeting

WHO Roundtable meeting with NGOs and health professionals on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol, 24-25 November 2008,

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WHO meeting with stakeholders

9 October 2006, Geneva, Switzerland, Participated in the WHO meeting with stakeholders on health problems related to alcohol consumption in Geneva;

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Alcohol Policy Conference and launch of APAPA

11–12 August 2006, Bangkok, Thailand – Alcohol Policy Conference, organised and hosted by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Stop Drink Network; and Launch of the Asia and Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance;

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WHO consultation on Public health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol

Meeting between WHO secretariat and representatives from 20 nongovernmental organisations in Geneva 24–25 April 2006

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GAPA – Asia Pacific Conference in Auckland

Meeting with Asia Pacific NGOs, Auckland, New Zealand, 9-12 December 2005.

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2000-2004

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GAPA attends first meeting on Alcohol and Health in the Pacific

Meeting on Alcohol and Health in the Pacific, 24-28 September 2004

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GAPA meets with Asia Pacific NGOs

Meeting with Asia Pacific NGOs, 23 September 2004

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India consultation held

Consultation on the formation of an Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance, Delhi, 20–21 March 2004

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GAPA meeting with Eurocare and WHO

GAPA meeting with Eurocare and WHO – 24 September 2003

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Regional workshop in Asia

Asian regional workshop on “Strengthening Alcohol Control Policy” 15–16 December 2002, Bangkok, Thailand

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South East Asia Consultation

GAPA consultation meeting, 24–25 November 2001 in Bangkok, Thailand

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GAPC 2000, Syracuse, USA

The Inaugural Global Alcohol Policy Conference was held 31 July – 6 August 2000 in Syracuse, New York State, USA.

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