We are pleased to share the March 2026 (Vol. 10) edition of the WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol (EVID-ACTION) project newsletter. This milestone edition highlights the deep-seated collaboration between WHO/Europe and WONCA Europe in equipping primary care professionals with the tools needed to tackle alcohol-related harm and promote healthier lifestyles across the region.
Project Overview: Strategic Momentum in 2026
As outlined in the newsletter’s introduction, the first three months of 2026 have been defined by the continued engagement of EVID-ACTION networks through online meetings, missions of the EVID-ACTION team to countries, and continued communications work to keep the project’s outcomes visible.
A significant feature of Vol. 10 is the publication of the first part of a report series: a public-facing repository of all the work done under EVID-ACTION. The first report, “Bringing evidence into action on alcohol: public activity report,” covers all activities from the project launch in September 2022 to the end of 2023.
Collaborative Advocacy: The EHAA Meeting (16 March 2026)
A central highlight of this period was the first online meeting of the European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA) in 2026. WONCA Europe continues to hold a high-level strategic position within the alliance, represented by Jose M. Bueno, who serves as the representative in the EHAA Council and is a member of the EHAA Executive Board.
During the meeting, Jose M. Bueno informed the board of the upcoming WHO/WONCA Europe workshop scheduled for the European Forum on Prevention and Primary Care. This briefing ensured that the alliance was fully aligned with clinical training efforts and the practical needs of family doctors before the event took place.
The EHAA Meeting focused on the following key areas:
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Strategic Leadership: Dr. Gundo Weiler (Director, Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO/Europe) gave opening remarks emphasizing the importance of trusted health-professional voices in advancing evidence-based measures.
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Expanding the Alliance: The EHAA officially welcomed four new members: EBCOG, EADPH, EUFAS, and IFMSA.
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Protecting Youth: Members discussed the EU consultation on the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, calling for stronger protections for minors against social media and influencer marketing of alcohol.
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Policy & Promotion: The alliance reviewed advocacy plans for 2026 focused on tackling alcohol intake, health promotion, and providing expert evidence to support Member States.
WONCA Europe in Focus: Clinical Milestones in Madrid
The newsletter also details the successful delivery of key primary care resources at the European Forum on Prevention and Primary Care on 26 March 2026:
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Primary Care Workshop: WHO/Europe and WONCA Europe successfully co-delivered a workshop on Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions (SBI). This session featured expert trainers from WHO, SEMFYC, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and Semmelweis University (Hungary).
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Joint Publication Launch: Vol. 10 highlights the launch of the "Let’s talk about alcohol" factsheet, published jointly by WHO and WONCA Europe. This resource is a practical guide for GPs to implement screening and brief interventions effectively in daily practice.
📖 Invitation to Read
We invite the WONCA Europe community to read this 10th edition of the EVID-ACTION newsletter to stay informed about these collaborative efforts and to access the latest evidence-based resources.
[Click here to access the full WHO EVID-ACTION Newsletter Vol. 10 - March 2026]