WHO criticised for including drinks industry reps in plan to tackle harm caused by alcohol

Alcohol Action Ireland criticised the inclusion of drinks bodies in the draft action plan. File picture

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been criticised by a leading Irish advocacy group over its willingness to include representatives of the drinks industry as part of a solution to tackling the problem of harm caused by alcohol.

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) said accommodating the global alcohol industry was at the heart of a draft action plan by the WHO which is designed to strengthen implementation of its Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.