The European Commission has presented a strategy that sets out ways to tackle alcohol misuse. It highlights the need to deal with underage drinking and drink driving, and it stresses the importance of good practice and cooperation in information campaigns.

The document, which was requested by EU governments from the commission five years ago, has been the target of fierce lobbying behind the scenes. Sections of the alcohol industry, notably German, Austrian, and Czech brewers, have tried to derail the initiative from the start (BMJ 2006;333:871-2, 28 Oct).

“What was really annoying …