Regional technical consultation with member states on the working document for development of the action plan (‎2022–2030)‎ to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority: Report (2021)

This report summarizes key findings from a regional technical consultation for the WHO European Region, which took place on 25 and 26 March 2021 to discuss the working document for development of the Action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority. A total of 43 Member States participated.

Out of all regions of WHO, the European Region has the highest levels of alcohol consumption and the highest proportion all of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) that are caused by alcohol. Of the 3 million alcohol-attributable deaths globally every year, almost 1 million occur in the WHO European Region. In 2016 a total of 10.1% of all deaths within the Region were alcohol-attributable, the figure rising to 25% in young adults aged 20–24 years.

Participants broadly approved the structure of the working document and the inclusion of the additional guiding principles, while also making a number of specific recommendations, relating to the Region's needs. There was a strong consensus that economic operators should not be involved in influencing the formulation of alcohol policy and an overarching emphasis on the need to have effective and enforced regulations to protect public health in relation to alcohol use.