23.10.2009 – Scientific Conference – Brussels
Cultural differences and the role of education: How do they affect drinking behaviours in Europe? And what does it mean for EU alcohol policy?
Do 50 year old French men drink their Burgundy the same way 30 year old women drink their Prosecco in Milan? Are occasional drinkers of Sekt in Vienna more at risk than regular consumers of Rioja in Sweden? What explains high levels of underage binge drinking in the UK and high levels of drink-driving casualties in Poland?
Is there one single pattern of alcoholic beverage consumption for all Europeans, or is the picture as patchy and diverse as Europe’s wine culture is rich and varied? How can this diversity help define sound approaches to tackle harmful use? What role can education play to prevent harmful use of alcohol, particularly amongst young people?
To coincide with the Commission’s progress report of the EU alcohol strategy, leading social scientists and experts in alcoholic beverage consumption from across Europe will offer their insights into the historical, cultural and psychological reasons why drinking patterns continue to differ so widely across European regions, genders and generations. This conference will fuel the debate on the most appropriate policy responses to tackle alcohol related harm, by looking at how these differences really matter when it comes to explore the appropriate means to combat harmful use.
