WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: EU-wide rules to restrict alcohol consumption on the basis of age, time and location

Every year, alcohol-related problems cost the State enormous sums of money which are spent on prevention campaigns or on drying-out facilities for alcoholics.

Every year, excessive consumption of alcohol results in people from every age group and every country suffering problems ranging from inattention and migraines to involvement in fatal road accidents. Apart from people who must, unfortunately, be classified as addicts, it is, above all, young people who suffer most from the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. The reasons for this phenomenon are surely psychological. Nevertheless, easy access to alcohol at an early age and on virtually every street corner at any time of day prompts, if not actually encourages, alcohol consumption.

By means of draft legislation which has been forwarded to the Slovak Parliament for adoption, the Government of Slovakia, an applicant country, is now currently trying to use the law to cut down the high per capita consumption of alcohol among its citizens. The bill now sets the minimum age for the legal acquisition of alcohol at 18. Furthermore, the sale of alcoholic products will be totally prohibited after a specific time as well as in venues devoted to educational, health and sporting activities.

Given the problems outlined above, would it not be desirable to introduce Europe-wide rules which restrict the sale of alcoholic products on the basis of time, place and age?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2002)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that alcohol-related harm is a serious public health problem causing very high social costs. The protection of young people is to be considered as a priority in this context.

Restricting access to alcohol, especially for children and young people, is one of the measures in alcohol policy, which can help to prevent the problems due to the inappropriate consumption of alcohol.

There is, however, no legislation at Community level regulating the minimum legal age for the purchase of alcohol or other restrictions on access to the product.

In June 2001, the Council adopted a Recommendation on the drinking of alcohol by young people, in particular children and adolescents(1), which encourages the Member States to increase their health promotion efforts, with a specific emphasis on settings such as schools, youth organisations and sporting organisations.

The Recommendation also proposes that Member States ensure that existing regulations regarding the illegal sale of alcohol to under-age consumers are enforced.

There are no plans to introduce Community legislation to restrict the sale of alcohol to specific groups or at specific locations. The Commission is, however, urging the producers of alcoholic beverages to make sure that self-regulation regarding the promotion and the sale of alcohol is further developed and enforced.

The Council Conclusions of June 2001 on a Community Strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm will offer opportunities to discuss all aspects of alcohol policy, including the issue of restricting access.

(1) OJ L 161, 16.6.2001.