For the first time ever, Belgium is launching a nationwide alcohol plan, with 75 measures to combat the excessive and harmful alcohol consumption fuelled by the country's well-known drinking culture.
By committing to the plan, Belgium's different governments have agreed to work together in the fight against alcohol abuse. They aim to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive consumption, facilitate rapid referral to appropriate care, strengthen prevention and health promotion, improve access to care, and have fewer traffic incidents caused by alcohol consumption.
This is an important step forward, said Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said, as "alcohol consumption affects health care, but also justice, finance, hospitality, youth, police and other sectors."
The plan's measures are based on recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Superior Health Council and focus on advertising, availability and appropriate care.
There will be much better and stricter regulations for alcohol advertising to minors to limit their exposure to alcohol marketing and prevent them from being attracted to alcohol marketing messages. Alcohol will no longer be easily available to everyone either, as only beer and wine will be sold to 16- to 18-year-olds from now on.
Alcoholic beverages will be banned from vending machines, and the country will also impose a ban on the sale of alcohol in shops along the motorway between 22:00 and 07:00.
In terms of adapted care, an "alcohol care pathway" specifically for adolescents and young adults will be created, as the authorities want to offer young people who come in through emergency rooms – due to alcohol intoxication and/or as a result of an accident while under the influence – a care programme that also involves their parents.
For Vandenbroucke, this plan was "absolutely necessary" given the huge social impact of alcohol, especially on health.
Still, he added that "the work is not finished" yet as discussions are ongoing about the implementation of a minimum price and the permitted blood alcohol level in traffic, for example.
Do Belgians drink too much? What do you think? Let @Maajtee know.
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