W O R L D HEALTH O R G A N I Z A T I O N E B 7 l / c o n f .Paper N o . 3 ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ 2 1 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 3
E X E C U T I V E B O A R D
S e v e n t y - f i r s t S e s s i o n A g e n d a item 7.2
A L C O H O L C O N S U M P T I O N A N D A L C O H O L - R E L A T E D PROBLEMS D E V E L O P M E N T O F N A T I O N A L POLICIES A N D P R O G R A M M E S
(Draft r e s o l u t i o n )
T h e E x e c u t i v e B o a r d
R E C O M M E N D S to the T h i r t y - s i x t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y the a d o p t i o n of resolution:
T h e T h i r t y - s i x t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y ,
R e c a l l i n g p r e v i o u s r e s o l u t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y r e s o l u t i o n W H A 3 2 . 4 0 , concerning the d e v e l o p m e n t of W H O ' S p r o g r a m m e on a l c o h o l - r e l a t e d problems；
R e i t e r a t i n g its firm c o n v i c t i o n that p r o b l e m s relating to a l c o h o l c o n s u m p t i o n r a n k among the w o r l d ' s m a j o r public h e a l t h c o n c e r n s and c o n s t i t u t e a serious h a z a r d for h u m a n w e l f a r e , and that it is t h e r e f o r e n e c e s s a r y for the M e m b e r S t a t e s and for W H O to intensify
their efforts to r e d u c e these problems；
Seriously c o n c e r n e d by the w o r l d w i d e trends in a l c o h o l c o n s u m p t i o n and alcohol-related p r o b l e m s , and a l a r m e d by the a g g r e s s i v e p r o m o t i o n a l drives for t h e increasing use of
a l c o h o l e s p e c i a l l y in c o u n t r i e s in w h i c h it w a s not previously widespread；
B e l i e v i n g that p r e s e n t trends in alcohol c o n s u m p t i o n and a l c o h o l - r e l a t e d problems are i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h the strategy for h e a l t h for all by the y e a r 2000， and h e n c e policies to reduce t h e m m u s t form an integral part of that strategy；
R e c o g n i z i n g that an e f f e c t i v e strategy to tackle the p r o b l e m n e c e s s i t a t e s explicit and c o m p r e h e n s i v e n a t i o n a l alcohol p o l i c i e s to r e d u c e alcohol c o n s u m p t i o n and alcohol- r e l a t e d problems；
M i n d f u l that e f f e c t i v e n a t i o n a l alcohol policy requires a c o n c e r t e d effort consisting of a w i d e v a r i e t y of m e a s u r e s for p r e v e n t i o n , a p p r o p r i a t e services for m a n a g e m e n t w i t h emphasis on the p r i m a r y h e a l t h care a p p r o a c h , and supporting research and e v a l u a t i o n , giving h i g h p r i o r i t y to p r e v e n t i o n through r e d u c i n g availability of and d e m a n d for alcohol；
N o t i n g w i t h satisfaction that the report of the W H O E x p e r t C o m m i t t e e on P r o b l e m s related to A l c o h o l Consumption^- p r o v i d e s a thorough and a u t h o r i t a t i v e summary of current k n o w l e d g e a p p l i c a b l e in this field and contains a number of important r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for W H O and the M e m b e r States；
A p p r e c i a t i n g the w o r k already c a r r i e d out by W H O , and r e c o g n i z i n g the important
c o n t r i b u t i o n of the T e c h n i c a l D i s c u s s i o n s held during the T h i r t y - f i f t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y on " A l c o h o l c o n s u m p t i o n and alcohol-related p r o b l e m s " for future developments；
the following
1 W H O T e c h n i c a l R e p o r t S e r i e s , N o . 6 5 0 , 1980.
E B 7 l / c o n f . P a p e r N o . 3 p a g e 2
1. U R G E S M e m b e r States to identify the actual and anticipated p r o b l e m s associated w i t h a l c o h o l consumption；
2. R E C O M M E N D S t h a t M e m b e r S t a t e s :
(1) formulate an explicit and c o m p r e h e n s i v e national a l c o h o l p o l i c y , with p r e v e n t i o n as a p r i o r i t y , w i t h i n the framework of the strategy of h e a l t h for all ；
(2) develop m e c h a n i s m s to coordinate p r o g r a m m e s and a c t i v i t i e s for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems on a p l a n n e d , c o n t i n u o u s and long-term basis；
(3) give serious consideration in their national alcohol policy to all m e a s u r e s suggested by the W H O Expert C o m m i t t e e in its report o n problems related to alcohol consumption；
(4) implement the policy adopted and evaluate its effectiveness w i t h a v i e w to further policy development；
3 . REQUESTS the E x e c u t i v e Board to m o n i t o r and evaluate the development of W H O ' S alcohol programme；
4 . REQUESTS the D i r e c t o r General：
(1) to continue and intensify W H O ' S p r o g r a m m e on alcohol-related problems as an integral part of the strategy for health for all through a primary h e a l t h care a p p r o a c h , as envisaged in the Seventh G e n e r a l Programme of W o r k , and in accordance w i t h resolution W H A 3 2 . ^ O :
(a) to strengthen further W H O ' S capacity to respond to requests from M e m b e r States to support their efforts in dealing w i t h alcohol-related problems；
(b) to promote further joint c o n s i d e r a t i o n by the organizations of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system and nongovernmental organizations of the problems associated with alcohol and their a l l e v i a t i o n ;
(c) to seek additional funds from relevant U n i t e d N a t i o n s bodies as w e l l as governmental and nongovernmental sources ；
(2) to ensure that any necessary o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , staffing and budgetary implications for the O r g a n i z a t i o n are taken into account in the p r e p a r a t i o n of the p r o g r a m m e
budget for 1986-1987；
(3) to use all possible m e c h a n i s m s for drawing attention and publicity to alcohol c o n s u m p t i o n as a health p r o b l e m , for example by selecting this topic as a theme f o r a f u t u r e W o r l d H e a l t h d a y；
(4) to report on the progress m a d e to the T h i r t y - e i g h t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y .
