Alcohol is a major contributor to road injuries, drownings, self-harm and interpersonal violence across the WHO European Region, putting frontline clinicians and emergency medicine specialists at the centre of the response to alcohol-related harm. This year, WHO/Europe and the European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA) will bring this issue to the fore at the EUSEM [European Society for Medicine] Congress, Europe’s largest gathering of emergency physicians.
With more than 4000 participants expected, WHO/Europe and EHAA will highlight the urgent need to address alcohol harm in emergency settings. Activities will include a high-level podium session on youth alcohol-related emergencies, a hands-on training workshop on Screening and Brief Interventions (SBI) and an interactive booth to connect clinicians with WHO tools and prevention initiatives.
Launched in May 2025 at the EASL [European Association for the Study of the Liver] Congress in Amsterdam, part of the WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol project (EVID-Action), the EHAA unites leading European organizations of health professionals to amplify the medical community’s voice in alcohol policy-making. Its mission is to reduce alcohol-related illnesses, injuries and deaths; raise public awareness; and advocate for the implementation of proven, effective policies. A core priority of the EHAA is protecting children and young people, who remain particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s harms.
Through their presence at EUSEM, WHO/Europe and the EHAA will spotlight the issue of youth alcohol intoxication and the pivotal role emergency physicians play, not only in treating acute cases but also in preventing future harms. The session will promote a wider uptake of SBI in emergency medicine, strengthen the links between clinical practice and public health policy and build a shared voice across disciplines. By joining forces with Europe’s emergency medicine community, this collaboration aims to accelerate effective action to reduce alcohol harm and ultimately save lives.