This month, we published our Annual Implementation Report 2019 that shows the work that spiritsEUROPE members have done throughout 2019 to promote responsible drinking in Europe. While we regret that the European Alcohol and Health Forum (EAHF) is no longer operational, our commitment to reducing alcohol-related harm has not wavered.
The 2019 report provides insight into the 112 prevention programmes ongoing across Europe. These programmes have as their aim the promotion of responsible drinking, often incorporating social media and innovative approaches to reach the target audience.
40 prevention programmes are dedicated to fighting underage drinking. These programmes have contributed to the significant decline in youth drinking as highlighted by the HBSC report published in June (we await the ESPAD study to be published in Autumn 2020, the results are expected to follow a similar trend).
The same is true for our long-term commitment to combat drink-driving. The use of the designated driver concept has become widely understood among young adults and increasingly so among the older generation. The pressure of enforcement of rules by police forces has been instrumental to achieve this change in behaviour.
Almost 60 actions with public-private partnership are recorded on www.drinksinitiatives.eu to promote responsible drinking and fight heavy episodic drinking. The whole-of-society approach is key to reducing binge drinking. In the European region, heavy episodic drinking went down by 26% since 2010 (aged 15–19: down by 28% / aged 20–24: down by 23% - see more here).
Our programmes have had a tangible impact and have contributed to driving positive change in a number of these trends. Thanks to everyone involved in these important projects and: let’s keep up the good work!
Detailed information on all actions are available at www.drinksinitiatives.eu
