For the first time, Europe has awarded a prize to reward states which fight against alcohol-related harm. Scotland received this recognition.
He is the bad pupil of Europe; the dunce of alcoholism. And yet, it is Scotland that is being rewarded for its efforts in the fight against this scourge which strikes it. The country has just received the very first European Award for Reducing Alcohol Harm.
The prize was awarded on Wednesday at the Seventh Alcohol Policy Conference held in Slovenia, in which the Ministers of Health of the Member States participated, as well as scientists and representatives of health authorities. The Eurocare structure, which brings together NGOs and European public organizations, is at the origin of this award.
40 effective measures
The award aims to recognize the various initiatives taken by the Scottish authorities to stem the damage associated with problematic alcohol consumption. The Scottish government has thus adopted around 40 measures, including the ban on promotional offers on alcohol (two bottles bought, the third offered), the lowering of the legal blood alcohol level on the roads, as well as programs to intervention with populations at risk and investments in treatment for alcohol addiction.
The award is likely intended to encourage a government that has had some setbacks in its fight against alcohol-related harm. Last year, Edinburgh attempted to introduce a floor price based on the amount of alcohol in a bottle. The amount was set at £ 0.50 (around € 0.70) minimum per unit of alcohol and was intended to curb consumption boosted by sales at knockdown prices.
This was without counting the fight waged by the Scottish alcoholics, makers of Whiskey in the head, who started legal proceedings before the European authorities. With success, since in December 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union retaliated the law, considering that it hampered trade. In the country, the standoff between the authorities and the industrialists continues before the competent courts.
22 deaths every week
“We remain fully committed to introducing a minimum price on alcohol as soon as possible,” said the Scottish Minister for Health, quoted in a communicated Eurocare. Of course, I was deeply disappointed that this life-saving measure was delayed by the legal challenges that the Scotch Whiskey Association launched again last week. However, the text has been ruled constitutional twice by the Scottish Courts and I am confident in the decision of the Supreme Court, which will come to the same conclusion if this latest appeal continues ”.
The minister also recalled that in Scotland, alcohol-related disorders cost 3.6 billion pounds sterling (4.2 billion euros) each year and kill 22 people per week. “We will therefore continue our work to reduce this damage and we will soon publish a new strategy on alcohol in Scotland, building on the progress made so far.”
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