Evidence-based actions to reduce alcohol harms are crucial now [Promoted content]

5 months ago 33

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[EASL]

The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) calls on the EU to accelerate public health policies to reduce liver diseases, improve quality of life, and save significant costs.

Prof. Shira Zelber-Sagi, Prof. Maria Buti, Prof. Frank Murray.

Alcohol causes huge personal and economic harms in Europe. Alcohol consumption is responsible for more than 3 million deaths per year worldwide. Alcohol is a causal factor for more than 200 non-communicable diseases, health conditions and injuries, including 7 types of cancer, liver diseases, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Europe is the highest alcohol-consuming region in the world and, as a result, has the highest level of alcohol harms and deaths. Alcohol is a group 1 human carcinogen and is associated with over 740,000 new cancer cases each year globally [1,2]. Almost half of deaths due to liver disease in Europe are due to alcohol. All of these diseases and deaths are preventable. Alcohol consumption is a significant public health problem that needs immediate and focused attention by policymakers in Europe. Effective evidence-based policies exist and should be implemented.

According to data from 15 countries [3], the most impactful and cost-effective means to reduce death and harms from alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD) are interventions which reduce alcohol consumption in the general population. There is a strong economic case for investing in preventing harmful alcohol consumption and in treatment of alcohol use disorder. For every €1 invested in a comprehensive policy package to reduce population alcohol consumption, up to €16 is returned in economic benefits [4].

Several European Commission’ strategies and initiatives such as ‘Healthier Together’ focusing on non-communicable diseases and the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) include ambitious policy instruments to tackle alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, these are not on track. Legal initiatives such as the proposal for mandatory labelling of the list of ingredients and nutrition declaration on alcoholic beverages product and the proposal for health warnings on alcoholic beverages products could be game changers. Yet these are being delayed as the end of the current European Commission’s term approaches. It is of utmost importance that these vital measures are prominent on the political agenda with the new EU legislature and are taken forward and implemented nationally by all Member States.

Commercial determinants have a significant impact on health policy. The influence of the alcohol industry on alcohol health policy is known to be detrimental and must stop [5]. European citizens have the right to be informed about the risk of alcohol consumption and protected from the interests of the alcohol industry.

To reduce alcohol harms and related economic and human burden, EASL recommends all the following actions, supported by the European Union:

All EU and European countries devise and implement a strategy to reduce alcohol-related harms and share learnings.
Introduce a minimum unit price (MUP) on alcohol products and increase excise duties, index-linked with inflation.
Introduce a complete ban on alcohol marketing, including on social media and digital media.
Introduce a complete ban on all alcohol sponsorship of sports and events.
Utilize alcohol licensing system to restrict hours of alcohol sales, density of alcohol outlets, and the separation of alcohol in mixed-trading outlets.
Introduce strict legislation and enforcement of the minimal legal purchasing age of 18 years.
Ensure strict enforcement of drink-driving countermeasures.
Introduce mandatory health warnings and ingredient labelling on all alcohol products.
Introduce a levy on the alcohol industry to recoup the cost of alcohol harms, a cost currently borne by the taxpayer.
Use levy on alcohol industry to fund treatment of alcohol-related illnesses, social care, justice costs, and research.

EASL will continue to work intensively with sister organisations in the public health field and with the EU Institutions to ensure that alcohol harm is recognised as a serious public health issue and is addressed robustly and swiftly in the new political term, upholding the promise of our European Health Union.

This figure is taken from the Hepahealth II study and shows the substantial impact of a unit price of 1 EUR on alcohol on the cases of liver diseases [6].

EASL is the largest professional body in Europe devoted to liver health. EASL’s overarching goal is to spread knowledge and expertise in best practices and the latest scientific breakthroughs in the field of hepatology. It also advocates at the national, European, and global level for patients, caregivers, and all who are impacted by liver disease.

Tomorrow is World Liver Day. Join the movement and raise awareness for liver health on the 19 April.

Check out EASL’s comprehensive recommendations in the area of liver health as we move towards a new EU political term.

References:

Karlsen TH, Sheron N, Zelber-Sagi S, et al. The EASL-Lancet Liver Commission: protecting the next generation of Europeans against liver disease complications and premature mortality. Lancet. 2022;399(10319):61-116. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01701-3
World Health Organization Europe – Alcohol use. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1
Karlsen TH, Sheron N, Zelber-Sagi S, et al. The EASL-Lancet Liver Commission: protecting the next generation of Europeans against liver disease complications and premature mortality. Lancet. 2022;399(10319):61-116. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01701-3
OECD (2021), Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use, OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/6e4b4ffb-en
The Lancet Gastroenterology Hepatology. Shining a light on international alcohol industry lobbying. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;7(4):275. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(22)00060-7
Retat L, Webber L, Jepsen P, Martin A, Cortez-Pinto H, Lazarus JV, Negro F, Mitchyn M, Guzek J, Card-Gowers J, Graff H, Nahon P, Sheron N, Sagi SZ, Buti M. Preventing liver disease with policy measures to tackle alcohol consumption and obesity: The HEPAHEALTH II study. J Hepatol. 2024 Apr;80(4):543-552. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.11.021. Epub 2023 Dec 11. PMID: 38092157.