UN health watchdog tackles alcohol
Source: Agencies |
May 21, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NATIONS adopted a global strategy to reduce alcohol abuse yesterday, breaking decades of silence on one of the leading causes of death and facing down an industry wary of new taxes and advertising controls in developing markets.
In a consensus vote, the World Health Organization's 193 member states endorsed a series of optional measures to combat harmful drinking, from lowering blood alcohol limits for drivers to restricting opening hours of bars and liquor stores. The most contentious proposals affect brewers and liquor manufacturers, including minimum pricing and taxes.
"Alcohol is the risk factor for many other things," said Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO's mental health and substance abuse department. "Usually it is not perceived as the killer, but it is."
The resolution isn't a legally binding treaty, and lacks the teeth of the organization's 2005 landmark tobacco accord, which requires governments who have ratified the agreement to fight smoking. WHO guidelines often follow the richest nations on innovation, but they frequently influence governments in emerging economies where industries such as tobacco and alcohol want to broaden their business.
Harmful drinking is the third leading risk factor for disability and premature death in the world, with 2.5 million people deaths each year linked to alcohol, the UN agency said. That includes 320,000 people aged 15 to 29.
In a consensus vote, the World Health Organization's 193 member states endorsed a series of optional measures to combat harmful drinking, from lowering blood alcohol limits for drivers to restricting opening hours of bars and liquor stores. The most contentious proposals affect brewers and liquor manufacturers, including minimum pricing and taxes.
"Alcohol is the risk factor for many other things," said Dr Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO's mental health and substance abuse department. "Usually it is not perceived as the killer, but it is."
The resolution isn't a legally binding treaty, and lacks the teeth of the organization's 2005 landmark tobacco accord, which requires governments who have ratified the agreement to fight smoking. WHO guidelines often follow the richest nations on innovation, but they frequently influence governments in emerging economies where industries such as tobacco and alcohol want to broaden their business.
Harmful drinking is the third leading risk factor for disability and premature death in the world, with 2.5 million people deaths each year linked to alcohol, the UN agency said. That includes 320,000 people aged 15 to 29.
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