Governance of alcohol

• 27-28 June 2019: Discussions during the Second WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours (Geneva, 27-28 June 2019) with Member States, NGOs and academic institutions on the implementation of the WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;

• 1 July – 15 September 2019: Data collection from Member States (through WHO Regional and Country Offices) on the implementation of the WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (within the framework of the Global survey on progress towards SDG target 3.5);

• 15 September – 15 October 2019: Regional consultations with Member States on the implementation of the WHO global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol since its endorsement, and the way forward, and validation of country information collected through the above-mentioned survey;

• 30 September 2019: WHO Secretariat submitted a preliminary report on the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol during the first decade since its endorsement, and the way forward, to WHO Governing Bodies Secretariat (GBS) summarizing the findings until 30 September 2019;

• 15 October – 21 October 2019: WHO Secretariat developed a discussion paper on the implementation of the WHO global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol since its endorsement, and the way forward;

• 21 October – 4 November 2019: Web-based consultation on a discussion paper dated 21 October 2019 on the implementation of the WHO global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol since its endorsement, and the way forward. The web-based consultation was open to Member States, UN organizations and other international organizations, and non-State actors. All relevant feedback received was  published on the website;

• 11 November 2019: Informal consultation with Member States on the discussion paper dated 21 October 2019;

• 12 November 2019: WHO Secretariat summited an Addendum 1 on the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol during the first decade since its endorsement, and the way forward, to WHO Governing Bodies Secretariat (GBS) summarizing the findings between 30 September 2019 and 14 November 2019;

• 3-8 February 2020: The 146th session of the WHO Executive Board considered the report of the WHO Director-General on the implementation of WHO’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol during the first decade since its endorsement, and the way forward, and will  its decision EB146 (14) called for accelerated action to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. 

3 October - 15 November 2008:
Web-based consultation (WHO public hearings) with Member States and other stakeholders on ways of reducing harmful use of alcohol.  Download all submission here.

6. November 2008:
Roundtable meeting with economic operators.
Meeting report.

24-25 November 2008:

8 September 2009:
Consultation with intergovernmental organizations.
Meeting report.

February - May 2009:
WHO regional technical consultations with Member States took place in all six WHO regions to ensure the effective collaboration with Member States on developing a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Ongoing national and sub-regional processes, national needs, priority areas for global actions and coordination was discussed, as well as examples of best practices with special emphasis on at-risk populations, young people and those affected by the harmful drinking of others.

• More information and download the reports

May - August 2009:
The WHO Secretariat produced and sent out to Member States for their feedback a working document for developing a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. The working document is based on the outcomes of the regional consultations with Member States and consultative process with other stakeholders and contains relevant background information, as well as a proposed vision, objectives and target areas for action by Member States.

October - November 2009:
Preparation of the draft of the global strategy on harmful use of alcohol to be included in the documentation for the 126th Executive Board meeting to be held in January 2010. A draft global strategy was annexed to the Report by the Secretariat. The documentation also contained an evidence annex.

18–23 January 2010: Executive Board 126th Session

At its 126th session in January 2010 the Executive Board discussed the draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol that had been prepared on the basis of available evidence and the outcomes of consultations with Member States and stakeholders, and in collaboration with Member States, as requested in resolution WHA61.4. The Board adopted resolution EB126.R11 in which it recommended the World Health Assembly to endorse the global strategy. The draft global strategy presented to the World Health Assembly was amended in the light of comments made by the Board.

17–22 May 2010: Sixty-third World Health Assembly
The Health Assembly considered the draft resolution contained in resolution EB126.R11, which endorses a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol was item 11.10 on the provisional agenda. For the first time, delegations from all 193 Member States of World Health Organization reached consensus at the World Health Assembly on a strategy to confront the harmful use of alcohol and adopted resolution WHA63.13.

• Open informal consultation on alcohol production and distribution data (19-20 February 2008)
• WHO Expert Committee on Problems Related to Alcohol Consumption (10-13 October 2006)
• Meeting with stakeholders on health problems related to alcohol consumption (9 October 2006)
• WHO is seeking views and opinions of stakeholders on health problems related to alcohol consumption (15 September 2006)
• Meeting with representatives of nongovernmental organizations and professional associations (24-25 April 2006)
• Open consultations with representatives of alcohol industry, agricultural and trade sectors (8 March 2006)