BELGIUM: Brewers of Europe applaud EU alcohol forum

European brewing association The Brewers of Europe said today (13 March) that it welcomes the EU's Alcohol and Health Forum, set up to fight alcohol misuse.

The association has launched a report at a Brussels symposium on responsible beer consumption, demonstrating the beer sector's leading role in the fight against alcohol misuse.

The report, released today (13 March), summarises the progress made in fulfilling the commitments pledged under the forum.

Alberto da Ponte, president of The Brewers of Europe, said: "We welcome the Alcohol and Health Forum as an incentive to step up our efforts to combat alcohol abuse which have made us the leading contributor to the process."

The report shows Europe's brewers accounting for more than one third of the total commitments pledged by all the members of the forum, which was set up in June 2007 by the European Commission. It comprises businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders.

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou welcomed the commitments made by the Brewers of Europe and said the forum will serve as a test to show "how serious the signs we get from some economic operators are to be taken in the long run, and how strong the commitment of alcohol producers, retailers, caterers and advertisers towards reducing alcohol-related harm really is".

Out of the 101 total commitments so far filed under the forum, 36 have come from The Brewers of Europe and four international brewing companies - AB-Inbev, Heineken, SABMiller and Carlsberg.