Reply to the editorial entitled ‘the European strategy on alcohol: a landmark and a lesson’ by B. Baumberg and P. Anderson

Alcohol & Alcoholism Vol. 42, No. 5, p. 507, 2007 Advance Access publication 8 October 2007 doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm070 LETTER TO THE EDITOR REPLY TO THE EDITORIAL ENTITLED ‘THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON ALCOHOL: A LANDMARK AND A LESSON’ BY B. BAUMBERG AND P. ANDERSON PIERRE-OLIVIER BERGERON Deputy-Secretary General, The Brewers of Europe, Rue Caroly 23-25, B-1040 Bruxelles (Received 17 April 2007; first review notified 3 June 2007; in revised form 23 July 2007; accepted 24 July 2007; advance access publication 8 October 2007) I read with great interest the Editorial by Messrs Baumberg and Anderson in Vol. 42, No. 1. pp. 1–2, 2007, of Alcohol and Alcoholism, and would like to share with you the following thoughts. I am writing this in a personal capacity, and the views expressed in this letter should not be interpreted as the official position of The Brewers of Europe. The adoption by the European Commission (EC) of a Communication on an EU Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm, and its endorsement by the Member States, indeed constitute a landmark. In fact, the key milestone is the setting up of the EU Alcohol and Health Forum (1), as an essential provision of the Communication. The Forum aims to provide a common platform for all interested stakeholders at the EU level that pledge to step up actions relevant to reducing alcohol-related harm. That the EC and the Member States promote the multi-stakeholder approach as a way forward in addressing alcohol-related harm is an extremely promising, though challenging, gesture. By definition, all those stakeholders who have signed the Forum’s Charter (2) endorse this approach. If this endorsement is genuine, there may be a chance that the classical, extremely polarised and sterile sort of debate we all have participated in for years may be transformed into an exchange of experience whereby those around the table talk to each other rather than speak at each other. There is no doubt that participation in the Forum will be demanding for anyone being a Member. But that is the deal. While I fully agree with Messrs Baumberg and Anderson that the Commission Communication and the Alcohol and Health Forum are a chance for further research in an often under-funded area, I have great difficulty in accepting an association of words such as ‘evidence game’. There is no evidence game. In fact, there is evidence, or there is no evidence. Wherever there is a knowledge or evidence gap, this gap should be addressed. This is simple reasoning, but it is common sense. It is the reasoning which led The Brewers of Europe and other sectors to call for a peer review process for the Alcohol in Europe report. It is exactly the same reasoning that applied to the examination of the Weinberg Group’s review (3) of literature by a panel of experts. In fact, what is at stake? Do we want to see less people injured or killed on European roads? Do we want to see fewer minors drink? Do we want to see less binge drinking in those countries where such a drinking pattern seems to prevail? Do we want to see less negative medical conditions associated with misuse and more benefits associated with appropriate consumption? Do we want to better understand how responsible drinking behaviour can be fostered? Whoever the stakeholder, are not these goals a little federating? (1) http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph determinants/life style/ alcohol/alcohol charter en.htm (2) http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph determinants/life style/ alcohol/documents/Alcohol charter2007.pdf (3) http://www.weinberggroup.com/Independent-ReviewAlcohol-Consumption-in-Europe-Report-12June06.pdf *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Deputy-Secretary General, The Brewers of Europe, Rue Caroly 23-25, B-1040 Bruxelles. Tel: (+32) 025 511 810; Fax: (+32) 026 609 402; http://www.brewersofeurope.org  The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved  (...truncated)