Eurocare rejects alcohol industry Wilton Park event

The European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) has resolved to decline an invitation to participate in the alcohol-industry linked Wilton Park event this week.

 Eurocare was invited to participate remotely at an event on Thursday February 23rd 2023 disingenuously described as “independent”. It is in fact part of a series organised for the alcohol industry’s International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD).

Companies profiting from alcohol harm can never provide a credible forum for the discussion of policy on reducing alcohol harm. We hope other organisations dedicated to reducing alcohol harm will think twice about participating in the event.

The alcohol industry’s profits come from the sale of alcohol which means its business interests run directly counter to reducing of alcohol harm. The majority of the alcohol industry’s income comes from people drinking at the most harmful levels.

Eurocare has many opportunities for dialogues to build on the WHO and UN reports with other CSOs and policy makers within existing networks where the agenda is set by public health and wellbeing priorities. Eurocare is an alliance of non-governmental and public health organisations with member organisations across European countries advocating for the prevention and reduction of alcohol related harm in Europe.