The Arctic and the northernmost parts of Europe and Russia witness the heaviest drinking problems of the entire European region. Action to prevent this has to include unpopular decisions, according to former Norwegian Health Minister Dagfinn Høybråten.

- Higher prices and less access to alcohol has been proven to minimize alcohol consumption. Campaigns and education cannot do it alone. Alcohol is the second biggest life style related killer in the developed world and we need to change that, Mr. Høybråten said at the Second Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum held in Tromsø, February 22nd -23rd.

Upwards of 600.000 Europeans die annually from alcohol related causes. And nine million children are affected by alcoholism.

The WHO has recently adopted a new global strategy to combat alcohol related problems, which according to Mr Høybråten has been inspired by the Nordic countries and their coordinated efforts.

The Northern Dimension partnership on Public Health and Social Well-being is one of four areas of cooperation between the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland. Other areas include transportation, cultural affairs and environmental issues.

The head of the Northern Dimension Secretariat for Public Health and Social Well-being, Marek Maciejowski, brought forth chilling statistics to underline the need for action in the region.

In Finland alone, the cost to society of alcohol related problems is more than five billion euro annually, even when subtracting the tax revenue generated by consumption. A third of all inhabitants in the northernmost region of Europe and Russia smoke and half of all men in the area are obese.

The chair of the Welfare Committee of the Nordic Council, Siv Fridleifsdottir from Iceland, stressed the latter aspect of public health improvement at the Forum. She pointed to the successful implementation in the Nordic countries of the Keyhole nutrition label, guiding consumers to choose healthy, low-fat food.

The Northern Dimension partnership was established in 2006 between the governments of Norway, Iceland, Russia and the EU Commission. Belarus, Canada and the United States participate as observers.

The first Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum was held in the European Parliament in 2009. The Forum includes in addition among others the Nordic Council, the West Nordic Council, the Baltic Assembly and the Barents Parliamentary Conference.The aim of the Forum is to support and further the partnership process in the four areas involved.

See final Conference Statement

Michael Funch
Phone +45 33960332
Email mifu@norden.org