WHO should accelerate action to reduce the harmful use of alcohol

harmful alcohol use causes about 3 million deaths each year and
total burden of illnesses and injuries attributable to alcohol consumption
remains unacceptably high. The pace of program development and implementation
Alcohol policy has been uneven across WHO regions, and in resources and capacities
to implement the WHO Global Strategy to reduce harmful use
alcohol 10 years after its introduction does not fit the size
problems. On this basis, the WHO Executive Board in its decision EB146
(14) called for expedited action to reduce harmful use
alcohol.

The committee considered Report on the Political Declaration of the Third Meeting of the High-Level General Assembly on the Prevention and Suppression of Non-communicable Diseases, especially Annex 3, entitled “Implementing a Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Alcohol Use” and Report on the findings of the consultation process on the implementation of the Global Alcohol Abatement Strategy and the way forward.

The board is in its decision EB146 (14)He requested the Director-General of WHO, inter alia, “to develop an action plan (2022-2030) for effective implementation A Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Alcohol Use as a priority for public health, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, to be considered by the 75th World Health Assembly by the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board in 2022, “and” to develop a technical report on harmful alcohol use, cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities activities, including guidance for young people and adolescents, before the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board, which could contribute to the development of an action plan, as well as to “adequately utilize resources to work on harmful alcohol use.

In response to decision EB146 (14), the WHO Secretariat will implement the following:

• March – April 2020: Start reviewing the extent of harmful alcohol use related to cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities, including targeting youth and adolescents. Commissioning reports to be published.
• April-May 2020: Zero draft action plan drafting document (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global Harmful Use Reduction Strategy with proposed essential elements and components.
• June 2020: Technical expert meetings organized by the WHO headquarters to discuss zero draft working document for the development of an action plan and the content of a technical report on the harmful use of alcohol related to cross-border marketing, advertising and promotional activities.
• July-September 2020: Finalization of the working document for the subsequent consultation process. Consultation from the website on a working document for developing an action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations and non-state actors. All relevant feedback received will be posted on the WHO website.
• October 2020 – March 2021: Regional technical consultations with Member States on a working document for the development of an action plan (2022-2030).
• March – April 2021: Preparation of the first draft action plan based on the information received in the working document in the process of regional consultations.
• April-June 2021: Online consultation on the first draft of the action plan is open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations and non-state actors. All relevant feedback received will be posted on the WHO website. Discussion of the first draft of the WHO Third Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behavior, attended by technical contact points from Member States, representatives of UN entities, civil society organizations, WHO cooperation centers and academies. Consult with economic operators in the production and trade of alcohol about their contribution to reducing the harmful use of alcohol within their main roles. Informal consultations with Member States on the first draft action plan.
• July-August 2021: Develop a second draft action plan based on feedback received from the first draft during the previous stages of the consultation process.
• August-November 2021: Reports on the second draft action plan organized at the meetings of the Regional Committee. Publication of a technical report on the harmful use of alcohol related to cross-border marketing, advertising and promotional activities, including targeting young people and adolescents, with a summary of key findings and conclusions available in six languages. A solemn meeting of Member States to discuss the second draft action plan. Final draft action plan taken into account feedback and contributions received from Member States and other stakeholders during the April-October 2021 consultation. Drafting and submission of the report by the Secretariat to the 150th Executive Board meeting.
• January / February 2022: The 150th Session of the WHO Executive Board will consider the report of the WHO Director-General, which contains a draft action plan (2022-2030) for the effective implementation of the Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Alcohol Use.