WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours
ESTONIAN statement
Genf,28 juuni 2017
First of all, we would like tothank the WHO for convening this forum, the participants for bringing it tolife, and state that Estonia is taking careful note of everything that is beingsaid during these 3 days.
Tackling alcohol related harmis a matter Estonia takes very seriously, and we would therefore like to take afew minutes to share some of the actions we are taking and seek to take withour partners to reduce the burden of alcohol on our health, social system,workforce and economy.
Since 2009, awarenesscampaigns have been carried out in Estonia every single year, the excise rateshave risen yearly since 2012 and we have launched a special programme toimprove the quality and accessibility of treatment and counselling, as well asinitiated rehabilitation projects for drunk-drivers. Right now, Estonia is inthe process of revamping its regulations on alcohol marketing, implementing theelements of Loi Evin, whilst also limiting the display of alcohol in shops. Itis through steady efforts like these that we have managed to reduce our alcoholintake from 11.8 litres of pure alcohol per person to 9.9 in two years’ time. Theroad ahead of us remains long, but we are fortunate enough to be accompaniedand guided by our civil society organizations and by our friends and partners internationally
During our struggle to tacklealcohol related harm, we have experienced how closely we are connected intoday’s open, borderless world. Though we celebrate open borders, we alsorecognize that they can make it difficult for a country to tacklealcohol-related harm. A country’s efforts to raise the prices of alcoholicbeverages by taxation may be diluted by cross-border shopping, whilst attemptsto curb young people’s exposure to marketing are watered down by cross-borderand internet marketing.
It is because of this thatduring our upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union we willfocus on having a discussion on cross-border aspects of alcohol policy. Inaddition to health, we would also like to invite sectors such as agriculture,culture and finances to the discussion, as they all have a significantimpact on the consumption of alcohol, and can therefore play an important rolein reducing the related harm. In seeking to reach a common understanding among EUmember states, we do not anticipate an immediate breakthrough, yet we believethat the burden of alcohol abuse calls for more action, not for one, but forall countries together.
Thank you!