Alcohol is the fifth leading cause of disease and disability worldwide and causes 3.3 million deaths every year
Alcohol Focus Scotland is to co-host a major international conference this week looking at ways to reduce alcohol-related harm.
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) will be held from 7-9 October at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and will be attended by over 400 delegates from 55 countries around the world.
Alcohol Focus Scotland was selected to co-host the conference because of the progressive approach being taken in Scotland to tackle alcohol harm, such as minimum unit pricing.
It beggars belief that the global alcohol industry continually persist in tactics to undermine effective alcohol policies
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr Mac Armstrong, chair of Alcohol Focus Scotland, which is co-hosting the event with the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), said: “If we want to reduce liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, injuries and mental health problems, we need to step up our alcohol control efforts.
“I am delighted to welcome everyone taking part in the Global Alcohol Policy Conference and hope it can be a catalyst for concerted action to counter the significant health and social problems that alcohol causes here in Scotland and around the world.”
Presenters at the conference are set to discuss the most effective policies to addressing harm from alcohol, including increasing price, restricting availability and enforcing bans on alcohol marketing.
There will also be a special focus on the right of all children to grow up in an environment protected from the promotion of alcohol.
Derek Rutherford, chair of the GAPA, added: “There is no part of the world that remains unaffected by alcohol problems.
“It is the fifth leading cause of disease and disability worldwide and causes 3.3 million deaths every year.
“In light of this it beggars belief that the global alcohol industry continually persist in tactics to undermine effective alcohol policies.
“It is particularly important that we build capacity in parts of the world where alcohol harm is increasing but control policies are limited.”
