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Useful information for your particiation at GAPC: see the Rio Welcome Packet and other useful information.
We encourage you to visit the poster presentations and exhibitions during the lunch and coffee/tea breaks.
Day available for side events – contact the organisers for more information.
07:30 – 08:30: Registration and coffee
08.30 – 10.30: Plenary 1: Opening
Welcome Speakers
9.45 – 10.30 Plenary 1 continued: Regional Developments
WHO regional policies and frameworks may have a significant impact on norms supporting alcohol policy regionally and globally. This session highlights some recent successes and provides perspectives from different regions.
10:30 – 11:00: Morning break
11.00 – 12:30: Plenary 2: Commercial Determinants of Inequity – Alcohol policy - reducing inequity by reducing alcohol harm among those experiencing disadvantage and less power
In many societies those who are disadvantaged through poverty, colonisation, historical trauma and racism have worse health outcomes, and alcohol harm contributes to/exacerbates this. Implementation of effective alcohol policies may contribute to reducing inequities.
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 15:30: Regional Workshops Topic: strategic planning for 2030
During the negotiations for the UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs and Mental Health, held on September 25, 2025, there was significant weakening of the UN HLM NCD document. A review of WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan (GAAP) is expected before its mandate expires in 2030. This may offer key opportunities for engagement with the process.
This session strengthens regional and interest networks and Alliances to support alcohol policy development at national, regional and global level and informs planning towards 2030. Following the introductory speaker, we will break into groups
15:30 – 16:00: Afternoon break
16:00 – 17:30: Concurrent session 1 (7 parallel sessions)
08:00 – 08:30: Registration and coffee
08.30 – 10.30: Plenary 3: Regulating digital marketing of alcohol
Alcohol marketing remains one of the least well implemented of effective alcohol policies. Many populations express support for regulation to reduce exposure to marketing but government response is slow and the commercial interests are very protective of their marketing which is crucial to their maintenance and expansion of their profits. A comprehensive approach is required including responding to new marketing such as for no alcohol products. Efforts to support improved regulation to ban marketing are underway, including by local government. The use of AI on social media and digital platforms to identify vulnerable consumers requires developing new technology, using AI, to allow surveillance and ensure compliance.
10:30 – 11:00: Morning break
11:00 – 12:30: Concurrent session 2 (7 parallel sessions)
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 15:30: Plenary 4: Regulating availability
The distribution channels of commercial alcohol products are often ubiquitous and poorly regulated and enforced. Government monopoly control of retail and/or licensing systems can provide limits on alcohol supply through trading hours, limiting physical outlets, home delivery and sale to underage people. Common responses are establishing national regulations such as minimum purchase age and maximum trading hours supplemented with a licensing system which can be used to achieve control over supply. Mobilising Input from community, health sector, police and central and local government into licensing processes illustrates valuable community action in support of policy in order to reduce alcohol harm.
15:30 – 16.00: Afternoon break
16:00 – 17:30: Concurrent session 3 (7 parallel sessions)
08:00 – 08:30: Registration and coffee
08.30 – 10.30: Plenary 5: Report from regional workshops and commentary from global governance panel
Reports from the regional workshops will be presented and discussed.
10:30 – 11:00: Morning break
11:00 – 12:30: Concurrent session 4 (7 parallel sessions)
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 15.00: Plenary 6: Alcohol Taxation
Progress on the alcohol policy best buy, taxation.
15:00 – 16:00 Plenary 7: Achieving the targets: the road to 2030
Panel discussion
16.00– 16.30 Closing
Conference summary and conclusion
Final speeches
