Policies, education and mobilization
Despite the enormity of the challenge, evidence and experience strongly suggest that substance use problems can be reduced. Such efforts require the political will to tackle the problems and a smart mix of government policies, education activities, and mobilization of communities and NGOs. Particular attention should focus on implementing evidenced-based strategies, which necessarily include interventions to reduce the availability and the affordability of alcohol and illicit drugs.
World Bank report on youth raise alcohol issue
The recently published World Development Report 2007 - Development and the Next Generation is all about the importance of young people in the development issue. Alcohol is among the risky health behaviours that influence their lives.
Asia Pacific Alcohol Alliance formed
During an Alcohol Policy conference in Bangkok i August the Asia Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance (APAPA) was launched.
WPRO Regional Committee passes resolution and strategy on alcohol
The fifty-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific - 18 to 22 September 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand drew up measures to reduce alcohol-related harm. It passed a resolution and a regional strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm.
WHO SEARO passes resolution on alcohol
The WHO SEARO Regional Committee meeting in Dhaka 21-25 August adopted a resolution on Alcohol consumption control - policy options in the South-East Asia Region
WHO SEARO initiatives on alcohol
WHO SEARO has taken several initiatives on alcohol. This includes several new publications.
Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region
In 2005 the WHO Regional Committee for Europe endorsed the Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region. It is designed to succeed the regional action plans from 1992-99 and 2000-05.
WHO EURO Alcohol control database
The Alcohol control database provides data to track and assess alcohol policies and their implementation within and across countries of the European region.
Brazil's New Closing Time
Tima Magazine report on how one city's decision to shut down bars before midnight has served as a model for cutting crime and alcoholism in a nation plagued by both.
Researcher and government official on WHO and alcohol
The journal Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs in 2005 carried two articles on WHO and alcohol. Robin Room writes the history of ups and downs of two decades, while Norwegian government official, Bernt Bull, elaborates on the the Nordic countries and the WHA 58:26 resolution.
Book: Strategies to Address Alcohol Problems
Professor Diyanath Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka, and FORUT has written the book ”Strategies to Address Alcohol Problems”. The book is a tool to achieve better results in alcohol prevention highly relevant in developing countries, as well as countries with a Western drinking culture and political tradition.
