Join us for the webinar "Pricing policies for SAFER European Region and Americas", on Thursday, 18 November, from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm (EST). This webinar, organized jointly by PAHO and WHO-EURO, is part of the SAFER initiative efforts in the European Region and in the Region of the Americas and one of the activities during the first Alcohol Awareness Week celebrated in both Regions.

Scope and purpose 

Alcohol is responsible for around 3 million deaths per year globally. Targets to reduce alcohol consumption are included in the Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, the Global monitoring framework on noncommunicable diseases and in the Sustainable Development Goals. These highlight the recognition of the harm inflicted on individuals and societies by alcohol consumption and the need for effective regulation.

There is a robust evidence base for regulations to reduce affordability of alcohol as a cost-effective measures to reduce alcohol consumption and harms, as well as broader health inequalities.

The global SAFER initiative highlights raising the price of alcohol through excise and other duties as a high-impact policy. As part of the SAFER initiative efforts in the European Region and in the Region of the Americas, this webinar will:

• Underline the importance of alcohol pricing policies to achieve the objectives of the SAFER initiative in WHO European Region and in the Region of the Americas
• Provide an opportunity to hear about WHO’s work in both Regions to support implementation of alcohol pricing policies, as well as some country examples of success
• Encourage discussion with Member States and civil society perspectives about how to build support from policy makers and the public for policies to reduce alcohol affordability in WHO European Region and in the Region of the Americas.

How to participate

• DATE: Thursday, 18 November 2021
• TIME: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (EST) [see time correspondence below]
• REGISTER: https://who.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvfu-qqzovEtfJf7Nn6yzLp6apX9CN5qRh
  • Passcode: Europe6$
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.

 The session will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian with simultaneous interpretation.

Agenda

Moderator: Eric Carlin – Consultant, WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases

• 10:00 AM - Welcoming remarks and introduction to SAFER
  • Carina Ferreira-Borges –  Acting Director for Noncommunicable Diseases, Division of Country Health Programmes, & Programme Manager, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs, WHO Regional Office for Europe

• 10:05 AM - Welcoming remarks and introduction to SAFER
  • Carina Ferreira-Borges –  Acting Director for Noncommunicable Diseases, Division of Country Health Programmes, & Programme Manager, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs, WHO Regional Office for Europe

• 10:15 AM - Economic and health impact of pricing policies in the WHO European Region and the Americas
  • Michele Cecchini – Project Leader (Public Health), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

• 10:30 AM - Regional efforts to standardize alcohol tax share:
  • Regional efforts to standardize alcohol tax share and other tax policy indicators
    • Rosa Sandoval – Regional Advisor, Tobacco Control and Economics of Noncommunicable Diseases, PAHO
    • Maxime Roche – Consultant, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Postgraduate Researcher, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
  • WHO Europe Tax Share NCD Signature Initiative
    • Franco Sassi– Professor of International Health Policy and Economics and Director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom

• 10:50 AM - Country experiences:
  • Guillermo Paraje– Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez Business School in Chile
  • Mindaugas Štelemėkas– Head of Health Research Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

• 11:20 AM - Overcoming industry opposition to alcohol pricing policies: 
  • Industry strategies to fight taxes
    • Maik Dünnbier – Director of Strategy and Advocacy, Movendi International

• 11:30 AM - Questions and discussion
  • Facilitator – Eric Carlin Consultant, WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of NCDs

• 11:50 AM - Looking to the future – next steps and closure of meeting:
  • Maristela Monteiro– Senior Advisor on Alcohol and Substance Abuse Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Time correspondence 

•   7:00 am. Los Angeles
•   9:00 am. –  Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San José (CR), San Salvador, Tegucigalpa
• 10:00 am – Bogota, Panama City, Havana, Lima, Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Quito, Washington DC
• 11:00 am. –  Bridgetown, Castries, Georgetown, Kingston, Port of Spain, San Juan
• 12:00 pm. – Asunción, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Paramaribo, Santiago
•   4:00 pm. –  Copenhaguen, Geneva, Madrid
•   6:00 pm.  – Moscow

For other cities, check the time in the following link. Make sure that you select the date of the event as many countries are changing the time in this time of the year, but the change happens in different weeks.