Health Council calls for stricter alcohol policy

Alcohol use should become less of a social norm in the Netherlands. That is the message from the Health Council in a new advisory report to the Dutch government. The recommendations could eventually affect producers, retailers, and other companies in the alcohol sector. The committee advises broadening alcohol policy and discouraging alcohol consumption across all population groups.

No safe lower limit

According to the Health Council, there is no safe lower limit for alcohol consumption. Every alcoholic drink carries health risks. The committee concludes that there is strong evidence linking alcohol consumption to a higher risk of seven types of cancer. The risk of organ damage also increases as alcohol intake rises. In addition, the committee states that there is insufficient scientific evidence to conclude that alcohol consumption provides any health benefits.

The report also states that alcohol consumption increases the risk of traffic accidents, aggression, violence, and addiction. For that reason, the committee recommends discouraging alcohol use not only among young people and high-risk groups, but across the entire population.

Recommendations for new policy

The Health Council identifies several measures that the World Health Organization considers effective. These include increasing alcohol prices, limiting alcohol availability, and restricting alcohol marketing and advertising. The committee also cites health warnings on labels and plain packaging as examples of measures that could help discourage alcohol consumption.

The committee also calls for a clear separation between the government and the alcohol industry. According to the Health Council, there is still insufficient knowledge about alcohol-free beverages. More research is needed into how these products influence alcohol consumption and the normalization of drinking alcohol, particularly among young people.

Gezondheidsraad.nl