European Alcohol and Health ForumPRIVATE

Task Force on Youth Specific aspects of alcohol

4th meeting - tuesday 20th january 2009 - Luxembourg

Clearing house:

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Michael Huebel has reminded us about the background and has explained how it is going on. It will be a European on-line database of projects, good practice, indicators, evaluation methodologies, scientific research data, all meant to reduce alcohol related harm among young people. First of all he asked whether there is consensus on the proposal, and the general comment was that the Clearing House can be a bright idea, if it can ensure that even the smallest, not-very-well-known project can be listed.

About the criteria for admission, among the other contributions, I have insisted that the criteria must be set up in a way that a project is not stopped by anyone in the steering group with the excuse that it has no sufficient scientific evidence, while perhaps it is only a project that goes against the industry's interests. In our clubs, for instance, 85 percent of the young people attending actually quit drinking, and this is a very strong result, which however is not very desirable by the industry (who prefers to push for a responsible drinking), but it must not be stopped, only because it is basically a self-evaluation rather than an evaluation made from outside. Michael Huebel agreed that every project, even if the evidence base is weak, should be shown.

Perhaps we could create three categories of projects, in the first one collecting the effective ones, scientifically tested, in the second one the projects which are believed to be effective but need more scientific support, and in the third one those which proved to be ineffective, so that they are not repeated by anyone else (even though the latter usually are not freely reported). Some NGOs insisted that projects that are industry funded should be shown as such, or at least that the partners in the project are described.

Regarding the template to be included in the website, someone said it would be better to call it "toolkit" i.e. a list of basic information on how to develop the same project in other countries, with the idea to disseminate such good practice everywhere. Promotion of such good practices could also be represented by a newsletter covering the recent additions and findings.

After the Forum plenary on 11th march, the Advisory Group for the Clearing House will be set up, consisting of a few Forum members, some from the Committee on National Alcohol Policy and Action (Member States) and some from the Science Group. I understood that this could be done by application, so EMNA should decide whether to be included or not. Thereafter the Advisory Group will discuss the criteria in details.

Initially, at least the summary of each project must be in English. In future, once the data base will be operational, it is envisaged that the Clearing House organize an event on alcohol, as part of the Open Forum, once a year, reflecting its work and findings.

Swimming with crocodiles:

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The reporters were absent, so none could introduce properly the research, made by ICAP (Research Centre funded by the Industry), but a copy of the book has been given to everyone with the recommendation to read it. The Diageo representative only mentioned that the title was suggested by one of the youngsters interviewed during the research, in South Africa,  who said "When I get drunk, I go swimming.... this is a stupid thing to do because there are crocodiles and hippos in the river, but you feel like you are invincible when you are drunk, so you do it. I do it".

The sub-title reads "The culture of extreme drinking" and infact Diageo did ask if we were familiar with the concept of "extreme drinking". I have read the book, and I have a feeling that again the industry is trying to separate the "good ones", who drink moderately, from the "bad ones" whom are now called "extreme drinkers" for a change, without recognizing that the only two categories are drinkers and non drinkers.

Also Michael Klein from Encare was absent and could not present "Alcohol related harm to young people caused by others".

Michael Huebel before closing asked in general what was our impression of the Youth Task Force. Among others, I said that I realize investigating the youth drinking habits is today very fashionable, and that I wish to participate in this Task Force, but generally, when elderly people discuss about the youth habits and make recommendations to them, they usually do not listen.

My view instead is that alcohol problems are a family affair, and the family is the first place where to discuss, tackle the problem or even prevent it, regardless whether it is the parents or the children who drink. So we should privilege the family approach and not separate the youngsters from the rest of the family. Michael Huebel seemed to appreciate what I said but nothing came out of it.

Finally Michael Huebel said he will be preparing a report for the plenary Forum on the 11th march, and asked who wants to see the document before it is presented. I asked to be part of that group.

Ennio Palmesino, 22/1/09

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