CETA does not acknowledge the link between alcohol consumption and major societal impacts
Follow the links below to find out why it’s dangerous
What makes CETA’s silence on alcohol-related harm dangerous?
Harmful consumption of alcohol is deleterious to health. CETA does not include measures to reduce non-communicable diseases and other forms of alcohol related harm, such as addiction, violence, crime and road deaths.
CETA will increase availability and affordability of alcohol
CETA is inconsistent with public health if it is used to promote increased availability and affordability of alcohol. The European spirits lobby has been one of the most outspoken supporters of CETA.
CETA does not acknowledge the link between alcohol consumption and major societal impacts including non-communicable diseases and other forms of alcohol related harm, such as addiction, violence, crime and road deaths.
This has the potential to harm health in both Europe and Canada.
Harmful consumption of alcohol is deleterious to health. In total, the societal costs of alcohol in the EU for 2010 were an estimated €155.8 billion. Alcohol is the leading risk for ill-health and premature death for the core of the working age population (25-59 years). 1 in 4 road fatalities in EU are due to alcohol; in 2010 nearly 31,000 Europeans were killed on the roads – 25% of these fatalities were related to alcohol. A recent OECD report shows that alcohol negatively affects countries’ socio-economic performance as productivity losses associated with harmful alcohol use are in the region of 5% of GDP in most countries.
Alcohol costs drain more of EU’s GDP than CETA could ever add.
- Alcohol-related costs impact on EU’s GDP
- Projected real GDP increase in the long term due to CETA
The European spirits lobby has been one of the most outspoken supporters of CETA.
What is the impact of alcohol in Europe?
Alcohol is the leading risk for ill-health and premature death for the core of the working age population (25-59 years). 1 in 4 road fatalities in EU are due to alcohol. A recent OECD report shows that alcohol negatively affects countries’ GPD with losses up to 5% in most countries. In total, the societal costs of alcohol in the EU for 2010 were an estimated €155.8 billion.
CASE STUDY: Market access for Wine and Spirits in CETA neglects alcohol related harm
Why is it problematic that CETA does not address alcohol-related harm when it contains a Wine and Spirits Chapter? Why is it troublesome that CETA sets up the Committee on Wines and Spirits without any health representative, or without setting up a Committee on Cross-border health determinants?
Europe is the region with the highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. Alcohol negatively affects work performance and productivity, drains social welfare and healthcare systems and is a contributory factor in crime, accidents and injuries. Alcohol-related harm is pervasive in Europe, often affecting others than the alcohol users themselves, and disproportionately burdening young people and family members.
Alcohol related harm is a major public health concern in the EU and accountable for over 7% of all ill health and early deaths. Young people are particularly at risk of short term effects of alcohol, with alcohol-related deaths accounting for around 25% of all deaths in young men aged between 15 and 29. The OECD quotes a total cost of alcohol of between 1.4%-2.7% of GDP in four developed nations: France, Scotland, US and Canada.
“The way CETA deals with alcohol is shocking. Alcohol is no ordinary commodity. It burdens Europe with massive harm – to a degree that alcohol harm costs more of the GDP than CETA could ever hope to add. If the European Commission is serious about economic
progress, it should employ evidence-based alcohol control measures instead of fueling even more alcohol harm.”
Kristina Sperkova
International President
IOGT International
