An Alcohol Policy in the European Union?

Abstract

Although the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Europe ranks among the highest in the world, resulting in many social and public health problems, measures to create an EU level alcohol control policy are yet to be made. Alcoholic beverages are currently regarded mainly as one product among many other products and the related restrictions are, for the most part, market oriented. The Nordic Countries, the author argues, cannot therefore expect much from EU as regards alcohol policy. Rather, he concludes, it is the other way around. However, Article 129 of the Treaty of Maastricht could perhaps form the basis for a general EU health policy.