The organisation that represents European brewers has pledged its support to the United Nations’ (UN) Global Road Safety Week initiative, in a bid to discourage consumers from driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Brewers of Europe will also join forces with the European Transport Safety Council on a three-year Smart drink-driving partnership, as part of the organisations’ joint commitment under the European Alcohol and Health Forum. Its member associations will further stage various events designed to reduce alcohol abuse.
Last month, we revealed that the representative body had reiterated its support for a Europe-wide approach to encouraging targeted action on reducing alcohol-related harm, following the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
The Brewers of Europe secretary general Pierre Olivier Bergeron said: “Drink driving is another form of alcohol misuse, and we take our responsibility very seriously when it comes to helping address this scourge on society.
“The improvements in drink drive statistics in the EU are impressive, with the number of deaths declining more than half from an estimated 12,500 drink drive fatalities in 2000, but every drink drive death is a tragedy. If we are to ensure safe and sensible drinking in Europe, the continuation of interactive dialogue, strong partnerships, and above all definitive, targeted and collective action is vital.”
The Brewers of Europe’s member associations will support various initiatives designed to raise awareness and reduce incidences of alcohol-related road deaths.
But Bergeron claimed that there was still more work to be done: “The huge array of partnership initiatives supported by brewers demonstrates that we are at the forefront of public awareness campaigns to reduce drink driving. We are rightly proud of what has been achieved to date, but we also acknowledge that there is a long way to go in terms of further reducing the numbers of accidents and fatalities. This is why we will continue to work with like-minded organisations to further reduce drink driving.”
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