WTO negotiations threaten to increase alcohol problems
2007 · Reykjavík, Iceland
NordAN General Assembly · 12 October 2007 · Reykjavík, Iceland
More alcohol problems may be the result of the negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the General Agreement on Trade in Sverices (GATS).
These negotiations are carried out with very little public attention and transparency. For EU member states, the negotiations are handled by the European Union, not by the national governments. This makes it even more diffucult for the public and voluntary organisations to follow and influence what might be the law in our countries.
Proposals have been forwarded in these negotiations, that would give a group of international trade lawyers the power to change national laws on for example alcohol advertising and licensing of restaurants to sell alcohol, giving international actors increased possibilities to market and sell alcohol.
This may certainly lead to increased alcohol related harm.
We know from experience that in the EU trade interests often are given priority over protection of public health. But alcohol is no ordinary commodity that should be regulated in commercial agreements, aiming to increase trade and consumption.
The annual meeting of NordAN, representing 88 voluntary organisations in the Nordic and Baltic states, therefore demand that our national governments exclude alcohol and alcohol related services from our comitments under the GATS agreement.