APPEAL TO GLOBAL HEALTH COMMUNITY

“STATEMENT OF CONCERN” ABOUT THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IN PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

On October 8, 2012, thirteen of world’s largest alcohol producers issued a set of commitments to reduce the harmful use of alcohol worldwide.  The commitments were issued in support of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.

An independent coalition of public health professionals, health scientists and NGO representatives has written a public “Statement of Concern” that is addressed to the WHO Director General in response to the recent initiatives of the global alcohol producers. The Statement documents the alcohol industry’s lack of support for effective alcohol policies, their misinterpretation of the Global Strategy’s provisions, and their lobbying against effective public health measures.  The coalition is seeking 500 endorsements from the global health community.

Qualified professionals throughout the world are being asked to review the Statement of Concern (http://www.globalgapa.org/) and indicate their endorsement by sending an email to the office of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) at gapa@ias.org.uk.