LOC21:38
18:38 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 21 (KUNA) -- European Union ministers for health discussed the issue of reducing alcohol-related harm in Europe during their informal meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, Friday.
The Estonian Minister for health and labour, Jevgeni Ossinovski, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, said that the responsibility for reducing the alcohol related harm lays mainly on the EU member states, but some issues could be handled much more efficiently in co-operation.
"Alcohol puts a heavy burden on EU population, contributing to over 200 health conditions and societal costs reaching up to 372 billion euros (USD 396 bn) every year.
It is our common problem affecting people of all ages across the EU," said Ossinovski.
Every fourth death of young men in Europe is caused by alcohol, he added.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting was the labelling of alcoholic beverages. "In the EU, a consumer may learn the content of bread or milk down to almost every molecule.
But what is inside an alcoholic drink, remains unknown," said Ossinovski. (end)
nk.mb