The Oslo Declaration

We, the participants,

GATHERED here in Oslo, Norway from 16th to 17th June 2022;

RECOGNISING that alcohol continues to cause more harm in Europe than any other drug, with devastating consequences for public health and social welfare;

CONCERNED that the alcohol industry continues to promote its products to new and existing consumers through many channels, including heavy alcohol users, young people and other vulnerable groups;

KNOWING that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that alcohol consumption causes
harms, including death, disease, injury, disability and economic hardship;

ALARMED by further increases in alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers during the covid-19 pandemic;

AWARE of the increasingly aggressive and well-funded efforts of the alcohol industry and its allies to undermine and subvert effective alcohol regulation and to normalise its consumption;

CONSIDERING governments’ responsibility to protect the wellbeing of people and communities;

and

AIMING to achieve health and development for all in Europe through high-impact alcohol policy solutions;

DO HEREBY DECLARE: 

1. National governments and the EU should regulate alcohol based on the WHO’s evidence-based Global Alcohol Action Plan to achieve its ambitious targets by 2030

2. National governments should cooperate to implement the evidence-based WHO Best Buys and SAFER recommendations, focussed on price, availability and marketing of alcohol

3. EU level regulation should reflect public support for mandatory ingredient, nutrition declaration and warning labels on alcohol products, so empowering properly informed consumer decisions

4. National governments and the EU should make sure that health policy-making processes are protected from alcohol industry interference

5. National governments should tax alcohol products related to alcohol content. This should be index-linked and increased regularly in line with economic and health indicators

6. National governments should restrict or ban the marketing exposure of alcohol products, particularly to young people and children and other vulnerable groups

7. Governments should recognise and support the pivotal role of civil society organisations in preventing and reducing alcohol harm