WHA endorses Global strategy

On 20 May 2010 The World Health Assembly passed a resolution endorsing a Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. 

Following the adoption of the resolution GAPA made the following statement:

“The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) welcomes the historic decision by the World Health Assembly which today passed a resolution that endorses a “Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.” In the two-hour-long debate at the Assembly, all member states acknowledged the harmful use of alcohol as a major public health issue. In the many member state interventions, delegates pointed to the global aspects of the problem and requested that alcohol problems receive a higher priority at WHO and that more resources be allocated to address those problems and to implement the new global strategy.

GAPA chairman Derek Rutherford said: “Concerted action to reduce global alcohol problems is long overdue. Today’s decision by the World Health Assembly is an important first step to address them. The strategy goes a long way in recognizing the transnational aspects of the alcohol issue. GAPA appreciates the wide range of supportive statements by WHO member states from both developed and developing countries in the discussion.”

The important concerns identified in the debate included the increasing culture of binge drinking among young people world wide, and the expanding influence of the marketing and advertising for alcoholic beverages. Delegates welcomed the varied evidence-based measures included in the strategy and their potential for successfully addressing alcohol problems. The strategy highlights the effectiveness of focusing on policies regarding pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol.”

See the resolution on the WHO website

See WHO web pages on the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol