By Martin Banks - 19th March 2008
The European commission has urged Europe’s alcohol industry to play its part in highlighting the dangers of heavy drinking.Speaking in Brussels, EU agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said people in many countries in central and northern Europe are drinking more. “This is no bad thing when it's spread across the population and across the week. But some people – especially young people, which is worrying – are drinking much more, and in very concentrated doses.“This has given rise to the 'binge drinkers' of modern times.”Addressing an audience of representatives from the wine industry, Fischer Boel said that statistics about heavy drinking made for “depressing” reading.She said they show that in 2006, 55 million adults in the EU were estimated to be drinking "at harmful levels" and that harmful alcohol consumption is estimated to be responsible for nearly 200,000 deaths a year in the EU, through accidents, liver disease and cancer, among other things.“Alcohol abuse is real and we must take it seriously," she said. "Where individuals are not handling their drink well, to what extent should the state intervene? “This is an interesting political question. But in any case, the fact is that national and regional authorities do choose to intervene – especially since alcohol abuse carries consequences for public order and for public spending on healthcare."The Danish commissioner said that public policy on alcohol-related harm would be more effective if member states could learn from each other's successes.But, she added, the various sections of the alcoholic drinks industry can also play a very valuable role.“I would hope that, the more seriously the industry takes its role, the less often the state will have to step in.”Her comments were echoed by Italian MEP Alessandro Foglietta, another keynote speaker at the event on Tuesday.Foglietta, who has drafted a parliamentary report on the issue, said, “Binge drinking, particularly in northern European countries, is a cause for real concern.“We need a well-coordinated EU-wide strategy to highlight the dangers caused by over-consumption.”The event was jointly organised by the committee of professional agricultural organisations in the EU (COPA).The aim was to launch an awareness campaign on the issue and to encourage responsible drinking, particularly among young people.
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