Alcohol Policy on the Agenda of the European Union

Preventive alcohol policy has gained in importance in many European Union member states as well as at the European Union level especially during the last decade. However, the European Union is still basically an economic union and its mandate to affect alcohol consumption, drinking habits, or alcohol-related problems is very restricted. Still today the European Union cannot harmonise any public health laws or regulations of its member states. Therefore, for instance, there are no directives affecting or guiding preventive alcohol control measures in the member states. Still, one may find some European Union-induced activity in member states concerning the control of alcohol advertising, drunk driving and drinking by adolescents in particular. There are also desires at the European Union-level to develop a comprehensive community strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.