Strengthening alcohol control and road safety policies

The African Region has one of the highest burdens of alcohol-related deaths globally - averaging 70 deaths per 100,000 people - second only to Europe. In some countries, this rises to 84 deaths per 100,000. With rapid population growth, even more people are expected to be affected unless stronger policies are implemented. Yet across much of the continent, comprehensive alcohol policies remain scarce, outdated or poorly enforced, leaving countries ill-equipped to tackle the rising harm from alcohol consumption.

In April, 60 representatives from 15 countries across the World Health Organization’s (WHO) African Region gathered in Accra, Ghana for a landmark SAFER inter-country learning workshop aimed at strengthening collaboration and accelerating implementation of alcohol control and road safety policies. The workshop was jointly hosted and supported by WHO, the WHO-led SAFER Initiative, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), with financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Government of Norway.

The synergy between the SAFER Initiative and Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) is critical, as both initiatives share a common goal of reducing alcohol-related harm and improving road safety. Let us seize this opportunity to work together for a safer, healthier Ghana and Africa.

Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, Ghana

The 15 country teams included representatives from the ministries of health, transport, finance, and justice, as well as from the offices of the attorneys general, to accelerate the implementation of high-impact alcohol control and road safety policies.

Multisectoral collaboration is essential - not optional - for achieving lasting public health outcomes. Today’s complex health challenges demand coordinated action across government sectors, civil society, and the private sector, all working together with communities. Only through shared responsibility and joint efforts can we ensure sustainable improvements in population health and wellbeing.

Dr Adelheid Onyango, Director of Healthier Populations Cluster, WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).

 

Participants came from Angola, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Uganda.

This event built on two WHO-led workshops in 2023:

• The SAFER inter-country learning workshop held in October 2023 in Addis Ababa, which focused on alcohol policy development in seven countries.
• The BIGRS workshop held in May 2023 in Kampala, which addressed alcohol-related road safety and legislative change in four countries.

The Accra workshop brought together countries continuing SAFER and BIGRS implementation with 8 newly engaged countries, creating a regional platform for peer learning and collaboration.

“We have acquired more knowledge on the SAFER package and learned from other countries which started earlier.”  Participant feedback.

A strategic and evidence-informed approach

The workshop was grounded in key WHO global and regional strategies, including the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022–2030, which sets out a roadmap for reducing harmful alcohol use through national leadership, cross-sectoral coordination, and evidence-based interventions.Regionally, it built on the WHO African Region’s Multisectoral Strategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing (2023–2030) and the Regional Framework for Alcohol Control, both of which call for  integrated approaches and policy coherence for alcohol control within public health systems.

“This workshop helped us break down our national action plan into implementable strategies.” Participant feedback.

In line with these frameworks, the workshop followed a structured and evidence-informed approach to support policy progress:

• Pre-work included virtual orientation sessions and bilateral meetings to review country status and update plans
• During the in-person sessions in Accra, teams engaged in landscape assessments, delivery plan development, and peer-to-peer support
• Expert panels with remote participation from Vital Strategies, Movendi International and University of Sterling, explored issues like alcohol industry interference and monitoring and evaluation
• Countries used the WHO Global Survey on Alcohol and Health to guide planning

“Policy integrity must be protected from alcohol industry interference,”  Dr. Frank John Lule, WHO Ghana Representative

Multilingual participation

The workshop was conducted in four working languages English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish - to accommodate the diversity of countries involved. While this presented logistical challenges, it also created a dynamic, inclusive atmosphere where participants engaged across language and regional boundaries. The investment in multilingual participation paid off, encouraging deeper exchange and regional solidarity.

“It helped us understand how our strategies are faring compared to our neighbours, even when we speak different languages.” Participant feedback.

Opportunities for strategic exchange

One of the most engaging moments of the workshop was the gallery walk - a participatory session where country teams set up "stations" to present their group work and delivery plans. Other delegations walked from station to station, discussing strategies, offering feedback, and exchanging ideas with their peers.

“The gallery walk was a huge opportunity for knowledge exchange and helped us sharpen our thinking.” Participant feedback.

This format sparked spontaneous discussions on barriers, solutions, and opportunities. It fostered a sense of ownership and reflection and was widely seen as a powerful tool for strategic thinking and applied learning.

Workshop outcomes and commitments

This workshop marks a pivotal moment in shifting from planning to coordinated action. With renewed commitment, shared purpose, and regional momentum, countries are better equipped than ever to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve public health.

As a result of the workshop:

• 15 countries finalized or revised SAFER delivery plans
• 8 new countries presented landscape assessments and implementation strategies
• Country teams shared commitment statements
• WHO and partners identified case studies for future dissemination
• Clear next steps were agreed on for monitoring, technical support, and cross-country exchange

Country teams identified 2 to 3 priority measures from among the high-impact SAFER interventions to accelerate national action and reduce the substantial harm caused by alcohol consumption. These priority actions reflect growing momentum for evidence-based policy change and examples include: raising excise taxes on alcoholic beverages to reduce affordability and curb consumption; establishing a national minimum legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol; regulating the density and location of alcohol retail outlets; tightening drink-driving laws by lowering legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits to ≤ 0.05 g/dl in line with international best practice; and integrating alcohol screening, brief interventions, and treatment for alcohol use disorders into mental health and primary care through the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

Looking ahead, WHO will continue to support countries in implementing their delivery plans, provide tailored technical assistance, foster cross-country learning and regional collaboration and track progress through global surveys and country follow-up.

Evaluation

Post-workshop feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction and provided valuable suggestions for improving future events. All respondents reported being satisfied with the workshop, with over half “very satisfied” and one in five “extremely satisfied.”  Participants valued the interactive format – combining group work, peer learning, and facilitator-led sessions – and praised the facilitators’ expertise and responsiveness. Many noted that the workshop strengthened cross-sector collaboration and provided a clearer sense of direction, renewed motivation, and practical next steps to advance national SAFER alcohol control plans. Comments such as “we are not alone in this struggle” and it “enhanced my knowledge and triggered my commitment” reflected both solidarity and strengthened resolve among participants.

About SAFER and BIGRS:

The SAFER Initiative supports countries with five key interventions:

• Restricting availability of alcohol
• Enforcing drink-driving countermeasures
• Expanding access to brief interventions and treatment
• Banning alcohol marketing and sponsorship
• Raising alcohol prices through fiscal measures

The BIGRS Initiative complements SAFER by strengthening road safety legislation, especially for drink-driving and other key risk factors. The Accra workshop demonstrated the value of integrating these initiatives into a shared platform for action.

The workshop was also the result of collaboration across all three levels of the WHO – headquarters, regional offices, and country offices – demonstrating the multidisciplinary and coordinated approach needed to address the harms of alcohol consumption.