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26.02.2026
Slovenian press conference highlights: Young people can too easily access alcohol and tobacco products
A recent mystery shopping monitoring study in Slovenia has revealed concerning levels of accessibility of alcohol and tobacco products to minors. At the end of February, the findings from the Health in all Policy (WP9) subtask on mystery shopping were presented at a press conference addressing youth protection and compliance with age-restriction legislation. The results demonstrated that 70% of underage mystery shoppers were able to purchase alcohol in physical stores, nearly 90% successfully purchased alcohol through online retailers, and more than 40% managed to purchase tobacco or nicotine products. Another concerning fact is that the selling points were frequently located in the vicinity of schools. Protecting young people from early exposure to harmful substances thus remains a critical public health priority. As early exposure to alcohol and nicotine significantly increases the risk of addiction, long-term health consequences, and the development of non-communicable diseases, these findings underline the urgent need for stronger enforcement of existing legislation and coordinated prevention efforts.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/slovenian-press-conference-highlights-young-people-can-too-easily-access-alcohol-and-tobacco-products/
24.01.2026
Cantabria, Spain Reiterates: No Alcohol Sales to Minors
Despite clear regulations prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, underage drinking continues to be a public health concern. While there is a general belief that these rules are widely respected, recent data suggest that this is not always the case, underlining the need to strengthen prevention, control and awareness efforts within the community. After a series of workshops held in schools, the JA PreventNCD team at Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), together with the Directorate General of Public Health of the Cantabria Regional Ministry of Health, analysed surveys completed by students. The findings were significant and concerning: 13% of the minors surveyed reported having purchased alcohol in commercial establishments while underage. This result raises an important question: if the regulations are clearly established and well known, why are they not always complied with? In response to these findings, the campaign “We Do Not Sell Alcohol to Minors. Don’t Even Try, the Answer Is No” was launched by the working team in Healthy Living Environments. The initiative aims to prevent alcohol consumption among minors and to reinforce compliance with existing legislation. Its main objective is to involve retail establishments directly by placing clearly visible posters that remind customers and staff that selling alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited by law. The campaign has already been implemented in the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Bezana, Novales, Argoños and Castro Urdiales, with the collaboration of supermarkets, local businesses and town councils. This coordinated approach reflects a strong institutional and community commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/cantabria-spain-reiterates-no-alcohol-sales-to-minors/
29.09.2025
Alcohol as a cross-cutting theme in preventing NCDs in Europe
The European Union is the heaviest drinking area in the world. Alcohol has been ingrained in European societies for generations, and is still an important part of traditions, celebrations, and social rituals1. Unfortunately, the health impacts and risks associated with and caused by alcohol consumption, are eventually well documented. In the WHO European Region, one in every 11 deaths is due to alcohol consumption. Alcohol can cause over 200 diseases, including seven types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, liver diseases and several infectious diseases2. Cancer is the leading cause of deaths due to alcohol in the EU, and there is no "safe level of consumption". Even moderate use of alcohol increases the long-term risk of diseases and harm3. Alcohol harms individuals, families, and communities, including those who are affected by other people's drinking, particularly children. The burden of diseases is also unequally distributed across socioeconomic groups. Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) experience disproportionately greater alcohol-attributable health harm than individuals with high SES from similar or lower consumption4. As alcohol is integrated in culture and social life, effective prevention strategies need to be implemented across sectors, at all levels, and adopt a life-course approach. This requires multiple stakeholders and actors engaging in coordinated and joint action considering alcohol as a cross-cutting issue.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/cross-cutting-themes/alcohol-as-a-cross-cutting-theme-in-preventing-ncds-in-europe/
03.06.2024
Filtered: Challenging Big Industry Narratives: Alcohol, Tobacco, Unhealthy Food and Drinks Population Measures and Policies
The "Challenging Big Industry Narratives: Alcohol, Tobacco, Unhealthy Food and Drinks Population Measures and Policies" conference, organized by the Filtered project, will take place on 27-28 June, 2024, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at the Hotel Intercontinental. This event will delve into critical discussions on public health policies and the role of industry narratives in shaping health outcomes. The conference aims to provide a platform for policymakers, advocates, researchers, patients, youth, and health practitioners to collectively address the challenges of reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by effectively managing their main risk factors, with a special focus on alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food and drinks. The conference will feature speakers from the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and other organizations. JA PreventNCD and Filtered The JA PreventNCD and Filtered projects are closely aligned in their mission to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Europe. JA PreventNCD focuses on supporting strategies and policies to mitigate personal risk factors and address societal determinants, consistent with the objectives of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the "Healthier Together – EU NCD Initiative." The Filtered project, an action grant complementing JA PreventNCD, specifically targets the dismantling of industry narratives that contribute to unhealthy behaviors and environments. Filtered aims to stimulate collaborative advocacy to support effective EU regulation for the prevention of NCDs. By collaborating, these projects can develop more robust and sustainable approaches to health promotion and disease prevention. Insights from Key Leaders Javiera Muñoz, Communications and Policy Officer at Eurocare, organisation leading the Filtered Consortium, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration: "The conference will provide a unique platform to challenge prevailing industry narratives that negatively impact public health. The conference will bring together experts and policymakers who work on different risk factors, mainly alcohol policies, tobacco control, policies related to unhealthy food and drinks, and the Commercial Determinants of Health to build on the successes in population measures in the past 10–20 years and foster a comprehensive understanding of how policies can be shaped to ensure healthier environments." Knut-Inge Klepp, the Scientific Coordinator of JA PreventNCD, highlights the conference's significance: "This conference will contribute to our broader mission of reducing NCDs in Europe. It allows us to integrate scientific research with practical policy measures, ensuring that our strategies are evidence-based and effectively address the root causes of these diseases. Collaborations like this enhance our capacity to implement impactful health policies across member states." Registration and More Information The conference is open to public health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in NCD prevention. Registration with a reduced fee is open until June 4, 2024. Late registration fees apply starting with 5 June. For more details and to register for the event, please click here. About the Filtered Project The Filtered project is one of four action grants under the EU4Health program designed to prevent cancer and other NCDs by stimulating advocacy, health promotion, action, and accountability at European and national level linked to the reduction of alcohol related harm, tobacco control and the reduction of the consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks. These projects work together to support the implementation of public health guidelines, pilot innovative practices, and develop comprehensive strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, exemplifying the EU's commitment to creating a healthier future by tackling the systemic factors that contribute to NCDs. The collaboration between Filtered and JA PreventNCD promotes synergies between various health initiatives and projects to streamline efforts and prevent duplication. The upcoming Filtered conference represents a significant step forward in the fight against NCDs. By challenging harmful industry narratives and promoting evidence-based policies, this event will contribute to the ongoing efforts of JA PreventNCD and other aligned projects. Join us in this important discussion and be part of the movement towards a healthier Europe.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/partnerships-collaborations/filtered-challenging-big-industry-narratives-alcohol-tobacco-unhealthy-food-and-drinks-population-measures-and-policies/
20.08.2026
Meet the JA PreventNCD Stakeholder Group
Preventing non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer requires collaboration across sectors, disciplines and levels of society. To support this, JA PreventNCD established a Stakeholder Group, bringing together 19 European and international organisations with expertise in public health, prevention and health promotion. The Stakeholder Group is part of JA PreventNCD’s wider approach to stakeholder engagement. The group provides a structured way to bring external perspectives into the work of JA PreventNCD, while also creating opportunities to share project knowledge and results through established European and international networks.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/meet-the-ja-preventncd-stakeholder-group/
12.08.2026
Different contexts, common aspirations: putting young people at the heart of NCD prevention
International Youth Day 2026 is being observed under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”. It recognises that young people grow up in very different social, economic and geographical circumstances, while sharing many of the same aspirations – including the opportunity to live healthy lives and have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their future. This is particularly relevant to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Young people’s opportunities to eat well, be physically active, avoid harmful products and access reliable health information are shaped by their families, communities, schools, economic circumstances and the wider environments around them. Achieving good health therefore requires more than asking individuals to make healthy choices. It means creating environments where healthier choices are accessible, affordable and realistic for all young people.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/different-contexts-common-aspirations-putting-young-people-at-the-heart-of-ncd-prevention/
22.07.2026
Why investing in health in the next EU budget matters
The European Union is currently negotiating its next long-term budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework or MFF. The decisions made now will influence whether health promotion and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases receive the sustained support they need.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/why-investing-in-health-in-the-next-eu-budget-matters/