Diet Member Study Session “Problems Resulting from Harmful Use of Alcohol and Countermeasures for Tackling this Issue”

date : 10/25/2012

On the 25 October 2012, the Health and Global Policy Institute hosted another ‘Bipartisan Congressional Briefing’ (Diet member study session) at the Member’s Office Building of the House of Councillors.

In Japan there is activity among groups such as non-partisan Diet member federations for the enactment of bills such as the ‘Basic Law for Tackling Negative Health Effects of Alcohol’, and the theme of this study session centered on ‘Problems Resulting from Harmful Use of Alcohol and Countermeasures for Tackling this Issue’. Following on from opening remarks from Gen Nakatani (Acting Chairman, Federation of Diet Members for Tackling Alcohol-Related Problems), we heard from Karl Mann （Professor, University of Heidelberg, Germany）and Susumu Higuchi （Director, NHO Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center/President-Elect, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism） on the current situation and issues relating to alcohol problems from their respective viewpoints through to the global level perspective, and what sorts of policies are necessary measures for tackling these issues.

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Alcohol Dependency is a Type of Chronic Brain Disorder

Karl Mann, former President of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) and the third most published author in the field of alcohol related harm, pointed out that alcohol dependency is more than just a problem with consumption of alcohol. Rather, it is a chronic brain disorder with multiple genetic and environmental causes that result in people being unable to stop from engaging in compulsive drinking.

Burden of Alcohol Dependency in Europe and Strategies to Alleviate the Problem

Continuing on from this, Karl Mann introduced some of the statistics relating to EU, as the area of the world with the highest levels of alcohol consumption. The total social cost of alcohol in the EU for 2010 stood at 155.8 billion Euros (about 1.5 trillion yen as of the exchange rate at the end of September 2012). However, despite large spending and costs in Europe relating to other disorders of the brain, the amount spent on treatment and prevention in relation to harmful alcohol use is comparatively low. Finally, he introduced evidence from WHO (2012) relating to the efficacy of strategies for tackling alcohol problems, and recommendations and guidelines produced by N.I.C.E. . He concluded by commenting on the necessity of improving awareness and treatments relating to alcohol dependency in Europe for alleviating the burden it exacts on patients themselves, families, workplaces, and the whole of society.

Current Situation of Alcohol Consumption in Japan

Susumu Higuchi, who has been involved in both the clinical and research aspects of prevention and treatment of alcohol-related problems, spoke about the recent trend towards increasing proportions of young women drinking, and how death rates from alcohol related chronic diseases such as oral, pharyngeal and esophageal cancers are also increasing. Furthermore, according to scientific research carried out and announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2012, the estimated social costs of alcohol amount to roughly 4 trillion yen, which are losses representing approximately three times the total amount of revenue from alcohol taxation.

Alcohol Control Measures Needed in Japan in the Future

Susumu Higuchi went on to talk about the WHO resolution ‘Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol’ that was adopted in May 2010, and recommended the counter-measures required in Japan. In addition to raising the commitment to tackling alcohol-related problems, it is necessary to promote better awareness of low and high-risk types of drinking. In particular, he proposed that it was crucial that methods that have shown effectiveness in tackling alcohol problems, such as counseling-type brief intervention therapies, be incorporated into the healthcare and insurance system.

Moving Toward the Enactment of a ‘Basic Law for Tackling Negative Health Effects of Alcohol’

The study session was concluded with a resolution among the Diet members and related organizations in attendance to continue on with non-partisan activities such as this study session in order to move toward the enactment of a ‘Basic Law for Tackling Negative Health Effects of Alcohol (provisional name)’.

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Diet Member Study Session “Problems Resulting from Harmful Use of Alcohol and Countermeasures for Tackling this Issue”

■Theme

“Problems Resulting from Harmful Use of Alcohol and Countermeasures for Tackling this Issue”

■Speakers

・Karl Mann （Professor, University of Heidelberg, Germany）

・Susumu Higuchi （Director, NHO Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center/　

President-Elect, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism）

■Date and Time

25 October 2012 （Thursday）11:00-12:00

■Place

Member’s Office Building of the House of Councillors