The abuse of alcohol is a "social tragedy" which "spoils the health of lots of young men and women, destroying their training and work perspectives, and in many cases, it kills young people whose lives… most of their lives remain to be lived". During the periodic meeting of the European Forum on Health and Alcohol, Androulla Vassiliou, EU health commissioner, confirmed the convictions of the Executive, recalling the damage caused by the immoderate use of wine, beer and liquors, as well as the commitment of the Union in this field. Every year, in the European Union, about 200 thousand people die because of alcohol and the diseases linked with it; moreover, family problems and social costs generated by alcohol must not be forgotten. This Forum was established last year. It gathers forty associations, enterprises and non-governmental organizations "to oppose the phenomenon of alcohol consumption among minors, to sensitize the people in relation to the effects of alcohol abuse, and to promote responsible advertising and sale procedures". The body which met in Brussels yesterday drew up a list of 78 concrete commitments, such as teaching bartenders and salesmen how to behave with the young trying to buy alcohol; making sure physicians inform women about the risks of alcohol in pregnancy; strengthening self-help groups.
