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Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2015

October 22, 2015

GAPC
More than 400 delegates from 55 countries gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland for the Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) entitled Momentum for change: research and advocacy reducing alcohol harm. GAPC plenaries and concurrent sessions focused on the following themes: implementing effective alcohol policies, the barriers to implementing effective alcohol policies, building support for protecting children’s right to grow up free from alcohol marketing, and building a global network. Sarah Mart and Michael Scippa represented Alcohol Justice at GAPC.

The GAPC declaration reaffirms commitment to, and calls for action on, the following:

  • evidence-based actions to reduce alcohol-related harm worldwide;
  • a specific indicator of consumption or harm in monitoring progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;
  • implementation of population-wide measures to curb consumption in reducing harm;
  • the rights of children to grow up safe from alcohol-related harm;
  • WHO global strategies on alcohol and on non-communicable diseases, including the three "best buys" and proven drink-driving reduction strategies;
  • protecting government ability to implement evidence-based public health policies regarding alcohol, through strengthening existing instruments or negotiation of a binding public health-oriented global agreement to address alcohol-related harm, independent of commercial interests in alcohol;
  • the need to restrict alcohol marketing in all forms, and implementation and evaluation of minimum pricing where appropriate;
  • protection of public health and alcohol control policies from commercial and other vested interests of the alcohol industry;
  • recognition of alcohol's significant role in injuries, infectious diseases, cancer and a wide range of non-communicable diseases, and mental health and social harms;
  • provision of funding from the global philanthropic community to national and international NGOs and research organizations to match the burden of alcohol on health worldwide.


Alcohol causes 3.3 million deaths a year, is the fifth leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and is the leading cause of death and disability for young people ages 15-24 in much of the world. It also causes multiple types of harm to nondrinkers including violence and injury, birth defects, and negative impact on family budgets. See Alcohol: a global concern, a 16-minute film by Alcohol Focus Scotland that premiered at, and was produced for, the conference.


Click here to view Sarah Mart's presentation


Click here to view Michael Scippa's presentation