Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — An EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm COM(2006) 625 final
Date: 2007-05-30
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: alcoholism, consumer protection, public awareness campaign, public health, transport accident, young person

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Official Journal of the European Union

27.7.2007

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Communication from the
Commission to the Council,
the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions — An EU strategy to support Member States in redu-
cing alcohol related harm’

the European Parliament,

COM(2006) 625 final

(2007/C 175/19)

On 24 October 2006 the Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 2 May 2007. The rapporteur was Ms van Turnhout
and the co-rapporteur was Mr Janson.

At its 436th plenary session, held on 30 and 31 May 2007 (meeting of 30 May 2007), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 96 votes to 14 with 6 abstentions.

1. Executive Summary

not include specific objectives with clear measurable targets and
timelines.

1.1
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
welcomes the Communication from the Commission, An EU
strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm.
However, the EESC regrets that the Communication falls far
short of a ‘comprehensive strategy’ which was invited in the
Council Conclusions of 5 June 2001.

This Opinion addresses the public health issue of redu-
1.2
cing alcohol
related harm: harmful and hazardous alcohol
consumption as well as under-age drinking contributes to
alcohol related harm.

The EESC would have expected the Commission to have
1.3
provided a more comprehensive and transparent analysis of all
the relevant EU policy areas, as identified in the impact assess-
ment, and of the difficulties some Member States have experi-
enced in maintaining quality public health alcohol policies due
to EU market rules.

The EESC urges the Commission,

in recognition of its
1.4
treaty obligations,
to show strong leadership by actively
supporting Member States in their efforts to provide a high level
of health protection by reducing alcohol related harm and to
ensure that Community action complements national policies.

1.5
The EESC recognises that cultural habits differ across
Europe. These differences should be taken into account by the
various initiatives and actions proposed.

The EESC regrets that nowhere in the Communication
1.7
does the Commission acknowledge that one of the reasons for
so much alcohol related harm is that alcohol is a psychoactive
drug, a toxic substance when used to excess, and for some an
addictive substance.

1.8
The EESC strongly supports children's rights and believes
that children, due to their vulnerability and special needs,
require special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal
protection. The EESC recommends that, for the purposes of the
strategy, the child should be defined as any person under the
age of eighteen years, in line with the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child.

1.9
The EESC urges that a reduction in the exposure of chil-
dren to alcohol products, advertising and promotions be
included as a specific objective to provide greater protection to
children.

The EESC urges

1.10
the
economic consequences of alcohol related harm. The negative
effects go against the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy and have
implications for the workplace, society and the economy.

the Commission to address

The EESC welcomes the development of a common
1.6
evidence base, including standardised definitions for data collec-
tion, which will provide a strong EU added value dimension.
The EESC regrets that most of the priority areas identified do

1.11
The EESC welcomes the creation of the Alcohol and
Health Forum which could be a useful platform for dialogue,
between all relevant stakeholders, and lead to concrete action
aimed at
related harm. The EESC would
welcome the opportunity to be an observer at the Alcohol and
Health Forum.

reducing alcohol

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1.12
initiatives should be part of an overall
reduce alcohol related harm.

The EESC urges that education and awareness raising
integrated strategy to

research evidence-base of

The EESC is concerned that there is a disturbing incon-
1.13
sistency between the
effective
measures to reduce alcohol related harm and what are being
proposed as Community actions. Throughout the Communica-
tion, education and information are frequently cited as the
intended measures. However, the research evidence suggests that
such measures have a very low rate of effectiveness in reducing
alcohol related harm.

3.1.1
There are significant differences in alcohol consump-
tion and harm between countries both in quantitative terms,
with regard to the form taken by the phenomenon, and also in
terms of the level of health-related and social dangers. In the
light this the EESC believes that the ‘Community activities’ to be
‘while respecting Member States' competencies’
carried out
should be understood as
inspired by
‘common guidelines’
mutually-accepted concepts concerning the aim of reducing
alcohol related harm, in all its forms. In the context of these
common guidelines, individual Member State should decide on
the means, the techniques and the intensity of the work to be
done.

2. Background

2.1
The European Union has competence and responsibility
to address public health problems related to harmful and hazar-
dous alcohol use. Article 152 (1) of the Treaty (1) states that: a
high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition
and implementation of all Community policies. It states further that:
Community action, which shall complement national policies, shall be
directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and
diseases and obviating sources of danger to human health.

2.2
In 2001, the Council adopted a Recommendation on the
drinking of alcohol by young people, in particular children and
adolescents (2), and invited the Commission to follow, assess
and monitor developments and the measures taken, and to
report back on the need for further actions.

In its Conclusions of 5 June 2001, the Council invited the
2.3
Commission to put
forward proposals for a comprehensive
Community strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm
which would complement national policies. In June 2004, the
Council reiterated its invitation (3).

3. Overall comments

3.1
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
welcomes the Communication from the Commission, An EU
strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm (4).

(1) Treaty establishing the European Community:

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/treaties/selected/livre235.html.

(2) Council recommendation of 5 June 2001 (2001/458/EC). Full report

published at
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/health.
(3) Council Conclusions 2001 and 2004

http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/lsa/80729.pdf.
(4) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European
Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions — An EU strategy to support Member States
in reducing alcohol related harm (COM(2006) 625 final). The Commu-
nication is accompanied by two comprehensive reports which were
commissioned by the European Commission: P. Anderson and
A. Baumberg, Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective, St. Ives:
Cambridgeshire: Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2006. (http://ec.europa.
eu/health-eu/news_alcoholineurope_en.htm); and a detailed economic
analysis of the impact of alcohol on the economic development of the
EU as part of the Impact Assesment procedure (http://ec.europa.eu/
health/ph_determinants/life_style/alcohol/documents/alcohol_co-
m_625_a1_en.pdf) — ‘RAND Report’.

3.2
However, the EESC regrets that the Communication falls
far short of the ‘comprehensive strategy’ that was called for in
the Council Conclusions, despite the lengthy developmental
process,
the EU-wide problems relating to
alcohol consumption and their impact on the health, social
well-being and economic prosperity of European citizens.

the evidence of

The Council invited the Commission to put forward a
3.3
range of Community activities in all relevant policy areas to
ensure a high level of health protection. The relevant policy
areas included excise duties, transport, advertising, marketing,
sponsorship, consumer protection and research, while respecting
Member States competencies.

3.4
The EESC welcomes the recognition that harmful and
hazardous alcohol consumption is a key health determinant and
one of the main causes of ill health and early death in the EU.
For many alcohol related conditions, there is no ‘safe’ limit of
alcohol (5).

3.5
The EESC regrets that nowhere in the Communication
does the Commission acknowledge that one of the reasons for
so much alcohol related harm is that alcohol is a psychoactive
drug, and is a toxic substance when used to excess, and for
some an addictive substance. This is disappointing given that
the strategy has been led out by the Public Health Directorate of
the Commission, where medical expertise is extensive.

3.6
The EESC welcomes the acknowledgement that harmful
and hazardous alcohol consumption impacts negatively not
only on the drinker but on people other than the drinker espe-
cially in relation to accidents, injuries and violence. The EESC
recognises that the most vulnerable group at risk are children,
and that other vulnerable groups include people with learning
disabilities, mental health problems, and those addicted to
alcohol and other drugs.

(5) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.

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violence

strong links between domestic

3.7
Domestic violence is a serious problem in many coun-
tries (6). The EESC urges specific attention to this issue, given
the
and heavy
drinking (7). While domestic violence can occur in the absence
of alcohol, heavy drinking contributes to violence in some
people under some circumstances. Heavy drinking can involve
more acts of violence and more severe violence. Treatment for
alcohol dependence has been shown to reduce intimate partner
violence. A reduction in heavy drinking not only benefits the
victims and the perpetrators of violence, but also the children
living in such families.

3.8
The destiny of Europe depends on a healthy and produc-
tive population. The evidence that a higher proportion of the
disease burden from harmful and hazardous alcohol consump-
tion is experienced by young people is therefore of grave
concern to the EESC (8).

3.9 While different cultural habits related to alcohol use
across Europe continue to exist, there has been a convergence
of drinking patterns among young adults and children. The
EESC is concerned at the increase in harmful and hazardous
drinking among young adults and children in many Member
in particular episodic heavy
States over
drinking known as ‘binge drinking’. Social acceptance of a life-
style in which alcohol
is constantly present encourages these
harmful drinking patterns.

ten years,

the last

The EESC urges the Commission to recognise that
3.10
regular moderate drinkers who drink in harmful ways from
time to time contribute to acute alcohol related harm,
for
example driving after drinking, alcohol triggered violence in
public places, excessive drinking around sporting or other
events. Such occasional harmful drinking events
special
amongst the majority of moderate drinkers can result in signifi-
cant public health and public safety problems (9).

accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

In light of

3.12
this, the EESC would have expected the
Commission to have provided a more comprehensive and trans-
parent analysis of all the relevant EU policy areas.

3.13
The impact assessment undertaken by the Commission
did identify all the relevant policy domains and the difficulties
that some Member States have experienced in maintaining
quality public health alcohol policies due to cross boarder
activity, such as exposure to cross border private imports and
cross-boarder advertising. However, the alcohol strategy does
not put forward any proposal to respond to this problem.

4. Overview of harmful effects

4.1
Globally, the European Union is the region where most
alcohol is consumed, with 11 litres of pure alcohol per person
each year (10). While the trend is that overall consumption is
declining there is also a trend towards more harmful drinking
patterns.

4.2
Noting that most consumers drink responsibly most of
the time, the EESC is concerned that 55 million adults in the EU
(15 % of the adult population) are estimated to drink at harmful
levels on a regular basis (11). Harmful alcohol consumption is
estimated to be responsible for approximately 195 000 deaths a
year in the EU due to accidents, liver disease, cancers and so
forth. Harmful alcohol use is the third biggest cause of early
death and illness in the EU (12).

4.3
Harmful alcohol drinking also affects the economy, due
to increased health care and social costs, and loss of produc-
tivity. The cost of alcohol related harm to the EU's economy has
been estimated at EUR 125 billion for 2003, equivalent to 1.3 %
of GDP which includes crime, traffic accidents, health, prema-
ture death and disease treatment and prevention (13).

3.11
The strategy explicitly draws attention to the compe-
tence of the EU under the Treaty to complement national poli-
cies directed at safeguarding public health. It also notes the fact
that the European Court of Justice has repeatedly confirmed that
reducing alcohol related harm is an important and valid public
health goal, using measures deemed appropriate and in

(6) EESC Opinion of 16.3.2006 on Domestic violence against women (OJ
C 110 of 9.5.2006) and the EESC Opinion of 14.12.2006 on Children
as indirect victims of domestic violence (OJ C 325 of 30.12.2006). Rappor-
teur: Ms Heinisch.

(7) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.
(8) Alcohol-related harm in Europe — Key data October 2006, Brussels,
MEMO/06/397, 24 October 2006. Source: Global Burden of Disease
Project (Rehm et at 2004).

(9) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.

5. Priority themes

The EESC regrets that,

5.1
in relation to four of the five
priority areas, the Communication does not include specific
objectives with clear measurable targets and timelines.

(10) Ibid.
(11) More than 40 g of alcohol, i.e. 4 drinks a day, for men and over 20 g,

i.e. 2 drinks a day, by women.

(12) Alcohol-related harm in Europe — Key data October 2006, Brussels,
MEMO/06/397, 24 October 2006. Source: Global Burden of Disease
Project (Rehm et al 2004).

(13) Ibid.

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Protecting children

5.2
Children are particularly vulnerable to harms caused by
alcohol. It is estimated that 5 to 9 million children in families
are adversely affected by alcohol that alcohol is a causal factor
in 16 % of cases of child abuse and neglect, and that an esti-
mated 60 000 underweight births each year are attributable to
alcohol (14).

5.3
the
The Commission already recognises the rights of
child and supports necessary action to address their basic needs.
The Commission identifies children's rights as a priority and has
to effective protection
indicated that children have a right
against economic exploitation and all forms of abuse (15).

The EESC has strongly supported children's rights and
5.4
believes that children, due to their vulnerability and special
needs, require special safeguards and care, including appropriate
legal protection. The EESC has also acknowledged the important
role of the family and the responsibility of Member States to
assist parents in their childrearing responsibilities (16).

The EESC recognises that exposure of children to harm
5.5
from alcohol can have serious negative consequences for them,
including neglect, poverty, social exclusion, abuse and violence,
which can affect their health, education and well-being both
now and in the future.

5.6
The EESC urges that the protection of children from
alcohol related harm be included in the specific objectives of the
proposed EU Strategy on the Rights of
the Child in terms of
setting priorities and in the consultation process.

The EESC recommends that

5.7
the EU alcohol strategy
adopts the definition of the child as any person below the age
of eighteen years in line with the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child (UNCRC) and as acknowledged in the Communica-
tion Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.

5.9
The EESC urges the Commission to acknowledge the
WHO European Charter on Alcohol (18) adopted by all EU
Member States in 1995 and in particular the ethical principle
that all children and adolescents have the right to grow up in an
environment protected from the negative
consequences of alcohol
consumption and, to the extent possible, from the promotion of alco-
holic beverages.

5.10
The EU Council recommendation urged Member States
to establish effective mechanisms in the field of promotion,
marketing and retailing and to ensure that alcohol products
to children and
were not designed or promoted to appeal
adolescents. In this respect, the EESC draws the attention to
existing trends across Europe of
teenagers drinking ‘alco-
pops’ (19).

5.11
The increasing trend of ‘binge drinking’ and the early
onset of alcohol use among children in many Member States
would suggest that current policies are not having the desired
In its Communication, the Commission recognises a
effects.
need to consider further actions to curb underage drinking and
harmful drinking among youth.

The EESC urges that a reduction in the exposure of chil-
5.12
dren to alcohol products, advertising and promotions be
included as a specific objective to provide greater protection for
children.

5.13
The EESC welcomes the declaration in the Communica-
tion by the actors in the alcohol beverage chain of their willing-
ness to become more proactive in enforcing regulatory and self-
regulatory measures. The alcohol industry stakeholders have an
important
their products are
produced, distributed and marketed in a responsible manner
and by these actions contribute to reducing alcohol related
harm.

role to play to ensure that

5.14
The EESC urges that in order to protect young people,
Member States could retain the flexibility to use taxes to deal
with the problems that may arise from specific alcoholic
beverages, particularly attractive to young people such as ‘alco-
pops’.

Reducing alcohol related road traffic accidents

The EESC urges the Commission to encourage local com-
5.8
munity actions, given the positive research evidence-base
supporting the role of such approaches in reducing underage
drinking and alcohol related harm. Effective community actions
combine shaping local policies and practices, supported by
relevant stake-
information and education, and involve all
holders (17).

(14) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.
(15) Commission Communication — Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of

the Child, COM(2006) 367 final.

(16) EESC Opinion of 13.12.2006 on Towards an EU strategy on the Rights of
the Child (OJ C 325 of 30.12.2006). Rapporteur: Ms van Turnhout.

(17) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.

5.15
The EESC welcomes the specific target set out for redu-
cing road traffic accidents, with a goal to halve the number of
people killed on European roads from 50 000 to 25 000
within a ten year period (2000-2010) (20). Alcohol related road
traffic accidents can also result in long term disability.

(18) World Health Organisation European Charter on Alcohol, Copenhagen:

World Health Organisation, Regional Office for Europe, 1995.

(19) Alcopop is a term coined by the popular media to describe bottled
alcoholic beverages that resemble drinks such as soft drinks and
lemonade.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcopop).

(20) EESC Opinion on European Road Safety Policy and Professional Drivers

(TEN/290). Rapporteur: Mr Etty.

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The EESC agrees that enforcement of

5.16
frequent and
systematic random breath testing carries substantially more
weight in effectiveness in reducing alcohol related road accidents
and that education and awareness campaigns is a supporting
strategy but not one that has shown effectiveness in reducing
alcohol related traffic fatalities (21). The EESC recommends a
maximum blood alcohol limit of 0.5mg/ml or less and lower
limits for novice and commercial drivers, in line with the EU
Road Safety Recommendation (22). Stricter legislation in the area
of blood alcohol levels needs to be accompanied by effective
monitoring and enforcement.

5.22
The EESC urges that education and awareness raising
initiatives should be part of an overall integrated strategy. Educa-
tion should not be directed solely towards young people but
should be based on a recognition that harmful alcohol
consumption occurs among all age groups. Such initiatives
should encourage young people to make healthy lifestyle
choices and attempt to redress the glamorous images of alcohol,
and the normalising of excessive consumption, which are
commonly portrayed in the media.

Prevent alcohol related harm among adults and in the workplace

Common evidence base

The EESC urges

5.17
the
economic consequences of alcohol related harm. The negative
effects go against the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy and have
implications for the workplace, society and the economy.

the Commission to address

5.18
The EESC recognises that there is a need for effective
regulation around the availability, distribution and promotion of
alcohol for example, opening hours,
‘two-drinks-for-one offers’
and age limits. The EESC believes that self-regulation in this area
is not appropriate.

5.19
The workplace is a setting where alcohol can cause
harm not only to the individual but also to third persons.
Alcohol related harm should also be addressed in the workplace,
in the framework of health and safety regulations, which is
primarily the responsibility of the employer. Workplace alcohol
policies could help reduce alcohol-related accidents, absenteeism
and increase working capacity (23).

5.20
The EESC urges employers, trade unions, local authori-
ties and other relevant organisations to take this issue more
seriously and work together to reduce alcohol related harm in
workplaces. There are in the Member States examples of close
and long-term cooperation between the social partners with the
objective of creating alcohol free workplaces (24).

Information, education and raising awareness

5.21
The EESC welcomes the Commission acknowledgement
that one of the main roles of education and information is to
mobilise public support
for the implementation of effective
interventions. A second important role, acknowledged in the
Communication, is to provide reliable and relevant information
on the health risks and consequences of harmful and hazardous
consumption of alcohol.

(21) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.
(22) Commission Recommendation 2004/345/EC of 6 April 2004 on

enforcement in the field of road safety, OJ L 111, 17.4.2004.

(23) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.
(24) See for example www.alna.se.

5.23
The EESC welcomes the development of, and support
by the Commission for, a common evidence base to establish
standardised definitions for data on alcohol use and alcohol
related harm, taking into account gender differences, age groups
and social class. The EESC also supports the evaluation of the
impact of alcohol policy and of the initiatives in the Communi-
cation. The EESC would urge the development of a range of
measurable indicators to track progress in reducing alcohol
related harm in Europe. The proposed actions in this area
provide a strong EU added value dimension.

6. Mapping of actions by Member States

Given that

the Commission,

the
6.1
development of this EU strategy, commissioned a comprehen-
sive state of the art report including the research evidence of
what is effective in reducing alcohol related harm, it is remark-
able to see the evidence being ignored in the strategy (25).

in preparation for

6.2
The EESC is concerned that there is a disturbing inconsis-
tency between the research evidence-base of effective measures
to reduce alcohol related harm and what are being proposed as
community actions. Throughout the Commission Communica-
tion, education and information are frequently cited as the
intended measures to reduce alcohol related harm. However, the
research evidence suggests that education and information have
a very low rate of effectiveness in reducing alcohol related harm.

The EESC notes that in the mapping of actions imple-
6.3
mented by Member States, the Commission omitted two of the
effective strategies, namely pricing policy through high alcohol
taxation and regulating alcohol marketing through legislation,
used successfully by some Member States to tackle alcohol
related harm.

(25) Alcohol in Europe: A Public Health Perspective.

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7. Coordination of actions at EU level

The EESC urges the Commission,

in recognition of its
7.1
to show strong leadership by actively
treaty obligations,
supporting Member States in their efforts to provide a high level
of health protection by reducing alcohol related harm and to
ensure that Community action complements national policies.

The EESC welcomes the role of the Commission in facili-
7.2
tating the sharing of best practice among Member States and
the commitment to improving the coherence between EU poli-
cies that have an impact on alcohol-related harm.

harm. The EESC would welcome the opportunity to be an
observer at the Alcohol Forum.

7.4 With the exception of developing a stronger European
wide evidence-base, the EU alcohol strategy relies on Member
States to continue to lead out on policy measures to reduce
alcohol related harm. However, the EU internal market rules will
continue to cause problems for some Member Sates and so will
potentially slow the pace of reducing alcohol related harm. The
EESC regrets that the EU alcohol strategy has no recommended
action to address this deficiency.

The EESC welcomes the establishment of the Alcohol
7.3
and Health Forum and provided that it fulfils the role identified
for it in the Commission's communication, the Forum could be
a useful platform for dialogue between all relevant stakeholders,
and lead to concrete action aimed at reducing alcohol related

The EESC would urge a commitment by the Commission
7.5
to undertaking health impact assessments as a best practice
measure to ensure a high level of protection in other Com-
munity polices areas which would enhance the Treaty obligation
in accordance with Article 152.

Brussels, 30 May 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

APPENDIX

to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee

The following amendments, which received at least a quarter of the votes cast, were rejected in the course of the debate
(Rule 54(3) of the Rules of Procedure):

Point 1.1

Amend as follows:

‘The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes the Communication from the Commission, An EU strategy to
support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm, and supports the Commission's proposal to develop a common, compre-
hensive strategy to reduce the damage caused by alcohol abuse across Europe. However, the EESC regrets that the Communication
falls far short of a “comprehensive strategy” which was invited in the Council Conclusions of 5 June.’

Voting

For: 31

Against: 67

Abstentions: 6

Point 1.5

Delete entire point:

‘The EESC regrets that nowhere in the Communication does the Commission acknowledge that one of the reasons for so much
alcohol related harm is that alcohol is a psychoactive drug, a toxic substance when used to excess, and for some an addictive
substance.’

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Voting

For: 29

Against: 74

Abstentions: 5

Point 1.11

Delete entire point:

‘The EESC is concerned that there is a disturbing inconsistency between the research evidence-base of effective measures to reduce
alcohol related harm and what are being proposed as Community actions. Throughout the Communication, education and infor-
mation are frequently cited as the intended measures. However, the research evidence suggests that such measures have a very low
rate of effectiveness in reducing alcohol related harm.’

Voting

For: 27

Against: 80

Abstentions: 2

Point 3.5

Delete the point:

‘The EESC regrets that nowhere in the Communication does the Commission acknowledge that one of the reasons for so much
alcohol related harm is that alcohol is a psychoactive drug, and is a toxic substance when used to excess, and for some an addictive
substance. This is disappointing given that the strategy has been led out by the Public Health Directorate of the Commission,
where medical expertise is extensive.’

Voting

For: 30

Against: 82

Abstentions: 4

Point 6.2

Delete entire point:

‘The EESC is concerned that there is a disturbing inconsistency between the research evidence-base of effective measures to reduce
alcohol related harm and what are being proposed as Community actions. Throughout the Communication, education and infor-
mation are frequently cited as the intended measures. However, the research evidence suggests that such measures have a very low
rate of effectiveness in reducing alcohol related harm.’

Voting

For: 31

Against: 81

Abstentions: 3

Point 7.4

Amend as follows:

‘With the exception of developing a stronger European wide evidence-base, the EU alcohol strategy relies on Member States to
continue to lead out on policy measures to reduce alcohol related harm. However, the EU internal market rules will continue to
cause problems for some Member Sates and so will potentially slow the pace of reducing alcohol related harm. The EESC regrets
that the EU alcohol strategy has no recommended action to address this deficiency.’

Voting

For: 28

Against: 83

Abstentions: 4