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.
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.
GAPC is the leading forum for the world’s alcohol policy makers, advocates, researchers, civil society activists and practitioners. The conference built on increasing interest in alcohol policy developments in the country and the Latin American region, and the participants in the conference heard a strongly supportive message from the Minister of Health of Brazil (insert video)
Sally Casswell, Chair of GAPA spoke in the opening session of the need to focus our advocacy efforts on the forthcoming review of the Global alcohol action plan, due in 2030, and to build coalitions to expand awareness of the benefits of alcohol policy to reduce inequities such as in the context of family harm.
GAPA has committed to supporting indigenous voices in the alcohol policy debate and indigenous peoples were important participants in the conference. We were presented with a beautiful carved Mauri Stone from the indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand as a visible symbol of this ongoing commitment.
Participants attended from 45 countries and despite the disruption of travel plans due to the war in Iran and widespread shortage of funding the conference was deemed a success and demonstrated the strength and determination of the alcohol policy community.
“I learnt a lot from the presentations and exchanges and was very happy to meet the alcohol policy community.”
“I shared my notes from the conference with key colleagues from the ministry and the main NGO, and they all found the contents very interesting and relevant”
“It was a very good conference where I could feel the passion of the alcohol control community, and I found the presentations very good.“
“It was lovely to meet you at GAPC! What a wonderful experience and learning opportunity for me.”
“… the Deputy Minister of Social Development, was quite elated about the conference – from the first to the final day!”
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