WHO agrees on expanded alcohol mandate

Published: 23 July, 2008

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) executive board agreed this week in Geneva to expand its global mandate on the issue of alcohol.

Executive board members were present at a debate titled strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol' and have now recommended the text for adoption at the World Health Assembly taking place between May 19 and May 24 2008.

The resolution requests the WHO director-general develops a global strategy on the issue for submission to the EB by January 2010.

It states: "The draft global strategy will be composed of a set of proposed measures recommended for states to implement at the national level, taking into account the national circumstances of each country."

It also recommends the WHO director-general should "collaborate and consult with Member States as well as with intergovernmental organisations, health professionals, nongovernmental organisations and economic operators on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol."

Printer friendly version