The technical package for the SAFER initiative focuses on five key alcohol policy interventions that are based on accumulated evidence of their impact on population health and their cost-effectiveness. Further, the SAFER initiative recognizes the need to protect public health-oriented policy-making from interference by the alcohol industry, as well as the importance of a strong and sustainable monitoring system to ensure accountability and track progress in the implementation of the SAFER interventions.

This SAFER technical package is aimed at government officials with responsibility for developing policy and action plans to reduce the harm done by alcohol. Given that alcohol-related harm extends beyond public health, and that preventing and reducing such harm requires multi component action that involves many stakeholders, this guidance should also be of use to those working in sectors other than health.

WHO, in collaboration with international partners, launched the SAFER initiative in 2018 alongside the United Nations third high-level meeting on prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of the initiative is to provide support for Member States in reducing the harmful use of alcohol by strengthening the ongoing implementation of the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and other WHO and United Nations instruments – including WHO’s Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 3.5 (i.e. Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol).