APHA Advises WHO on Stategies to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol

By Don Zeigler, PhD

The World Health Organization has been far less active on alcohol issues than on tobacco control. However, in May 2008, WHO's World Health Assembly ordered the WHO to draft a global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. In order to do this, WHO undertook a broad consultation process that began with for a call for public testimony and stakeholder meetings. APHA participated in October by sending a six-page statement drafted by our ATOD Section.

Our Association’s statement pointed out that the global burden of disease linked to early, high-risk and chronic use of alcohol is preventable and can be reduced through application of evidence-based strategies and interventions. Global problems related to the impact of alcohol on health and society urgently requires adequate resources and governmental, non-governmental, medical, and health care collaboration led by the WHO. Moreover, trade agreements should not be used to undercut public measures to address alcohol-related problems. The WHO should identify and train governments and NGOs to implement best practices in monitoring and controlling alcohol-related harm. In addition, we recommended that the WHO formulate a binding international alcohol treaty modeled after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Lastly, APHA committed support through the ATOD section and its members and our role in the World Federation of Public Health Associations.

Following the public testimony phase, WHO held separate meetings in late 2008 with the alcohol industry and then with NGOs and health professionals. During the first half of 2009, WHO will consult with intergovernmental organizations and UN agencies in all six WHO regions. The Americas’ meeting is 6-8 May in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The US delegation is led by representatives of Health and Human Services. The Obama Administration has already committed to tobacco control but has not come out on alcohol. APHA may be able to play an additional role by pressuring the US delegation to the WHO to strongly support a comprehensive international strategy on alcohol control - independent of commercial interests.

WHO’s last stage involves preparing a draft strategy development for consideration by the WHO Executive Board in January 2010 and presentation to World Health Assembly in May 2010.