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PRESS RELEASE: 29.01.2007 Mikael Aro, the new Chairman of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry: From warnings to educationNow that total alcohol consumption is no longer increasing, the brewing industry would like the incoming government to target education at alcohol abuse and underage drinking. The Finnish brewing industry is waiting for a long-term alcohol policy that focuses on preventing the damage caused by problem use.
“Excessive alcohol use and underage drinking are major social problems, and the industry wants to play its own proactive role in finding solutions to them,” says Mikael Aro, the new Chairman of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry.
“Rather than simply looking at alcohol consumption, Parliament’s Committee for Constitutional Law recently urged those discussing alcohol legislation to pay attention to the damage caused by excessive use instead. This policy is the correct one. Discussion about Finnish alcohol policy needs to reinstate respect for moderate use.
“Instead of blaming responsible consumers and commerce, the brewing industry hopes that a variety of parties will co-operate on and commit to effective alcohol education. Genuine education is required, not warning labels. Young people’s drinking needs to be addressed in young people’s media and with targeted, visually effective messages,” emphasises Aro.
“Alcohol policy discussion in recent years has been marked by extremes. Alcohol is an easy scapegoat for all our problems, even though moderate use also has positive effects,” Aro says. New Board elected Mikael Aro, managing director of Oy Sinebrychoff Ab, was elected as the new chairman of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry at a meeting held on 25 January 2007.
The other Board members for 2007 are Olvi plc’s managing director Lasse Aho, Nokian Panimo Oy’s managing director Marcus Kanerva and Hartwall Ltd’s managing director Yrjö Närhinen. Additional information: The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry promotes the interests of producers of beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks and mineral waters in Finland. Its members are Oy Hartwall Ab, Nokian Panimo Oy, Olvi Oyj and Oy Sinebrychoff Ab. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry operates in connection with the Finnish Food and Drink Industries Federation and is among the four largest industries in the food and drink branch in terms of the value of production. | |
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