Alcohol Policy Topic At United Nations
In July, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will convene and alcohol’s role as obstacle to development will be addressed.
The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is the United Nations’ central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. It provides for the full and effective participation of all UN Member States and States members of specialized UN agencies. the HLPF convenes for the second time since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015.
Alcohol a massive obstacle to development
During the HLPF, IOGT International together with government partners, UN agencies, and other civil society partners will host two Side Events in order to bring broader attention to alcohol’s adverse effects on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Alcohol is a hinder to achieving 13 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 52 of 169 targets. It is a major obstacle to sustainable human development.
- Alcohol kills 3.3 million people worldwide every year, representing 5.9 % of all deaths.
- That means: Every 10 seconds a human being dies because of alcohol.
Through its multiple negative public health, social and economic impacts, alcohol is a major obstacle to development and all three dimensions of development: social, environmental and economic.
Side event #1
CREATING COMMUNITIES WHERE KIDS AND YOUTH THRIVE
SDG 3 is the governments’ commitment to “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.” Creating com- munities that tend to the needs and interests of children, adolescents and youth holds tremendous potential for the promotion of healthy lifestyles throughout the life course.
Read more about the event here.
Side event #2
MASSIVE OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPMENT – ALCOHOL HARM
No less than 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are adversely impacted by alcohol. Pervasive alcohol harm causes poverty, ill-health and premature deaths, erodes economic productivity, threatens women’s empowerment and gender equality, contributes to unsafe public space and jeopardizes water and food security.
What can we do about it?
Find more information about the event here.