The Minister of Health, Ms Marina Geli; the Minister of Helath and Consumption, Bernat Soria, and the Minister of Health of Slovenia, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukoviè this morning declared open the III European Alcohol Policy Conference. Atendees to the Conference include Mr Marc Danzon, Regional Director of WHO Europe; Mr Robert Madelin, Director-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, and First Deputy Mayor of Barcelona Town Hall, Mr Carles Martí.

This Conference, under the name "Building Capacity for Action", will be held in Auditorium AXA Winthertur of Barcelona. It will gather more than 350 experts from 34 countries, and different Member State competent authorities and representatives of the European Commission and WHO.

The Minister of Health insisted Catalonia is at the forefront in early detection in risk consumption. Through the Drink Less Programme, early detection of risk consumption is systematically performed in patients assisted in Health Basic Areas. Ms Marina Geli reminded the battle for a cultural change is not yet won –as it is occurring with tobacco–. Yet many significant changes have been made, as today alcohol toxic action in youth, pregnant women, and driving is no longer discussed. The Minister said to delay the start drinking age. For this reason, it is important to modify advertising aimed at young people and invest in social marketing so as to change public opinion.

The Minister of Health and Consumption, Mr Bernat Soria, suggested alcohol is associated to more than 60 physical and mental diseases and a survey carried out in 2004 directly related alcohol with 3.3% deaths during the year. The Minister of Health of Slovenia, Ms. Zofija Mazej Kukoviè, underlined direct costs derived from alcohol consumption in Europe are estimated in €125bn, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, and that this Conference constitutes an unbeatable opportunity to change good practices among participating countries.

Throughout the Conference, Ms Marina Geli also took part in a round table on alcohol policies, together with Poland’s Vice-minister of Health, Mr Adam Fronczak; Scotland’s Minister of Justice, Mr Kenny MacAskill; Germany’s Federal Drug Commissoner, Sabine Baetzing, and Vice-president of the European Economic and Social Committee, Mr Jillian van Turnhout.

During three days, through round tables, parallel sessions and intersectorial discussions, it will thoroughly analyse the impact of alcoholic drinks consumption in population’s health, and especially in most efficient measures to reduce health and social costs derived. The Conference will conclude with two declarations which will be submitted to the European Commission to develop policies and programs, and reduce alcohol-related accidents and injuries.

The Conference is organized by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Catalonia, together with Slovenia’s Institute of Public Health and the Building Capacity Project. This project, with 31 country partners and 10 European organizations, will enable European network to implement effective policies helping to reduce the social costs due to alcohol.