Responsible Travels, Brussels, Belgium

Event was honoured by the presence and opening by the Norwegian Ambassador to the EU Rolf Einar Fife.

It was followed by a variety of presentations from stakeholders, looking at possible solutions to the excessive alcohol consumption in the tourist setting.

Evidence suggests that the prevalence of disruptive behaviour at airports and on airplanes due to alcohol consumption is increasing. In February, the International Summit - Rethinking your Trip took place in Palma (Majorca) to tackle potential incidents in tourism related to excessive intake of alcohol. Within this context, we will present the first conclusions of the summit, deepen and further discuss the potential incidents at airports, flights and tourist areas.

Excessive alcohol intake by air passengers has economic, medical and welfare ramifications, and is identified as a top three risk to aviation safety. Accidents on airplanes are uniquely unforgiving and the worst scenarios endanger the lives of many people. Apart from the nuisance incurred to the other passengers, drunkenness on airplanes causes flights to be diverted, distracts the cabin crew from their normal safety duties and causes a hazard in emergency evacuations.

Speakers:

•  Timothy Colehan, Assistant Director Government & Industry Affairs International Air Transport Association (IATA)
•  Attila Balogh , European Commission, DG SANTE
  
• Thomas Montagne, Independent Winegrowers
  
• Ignacio Sanchez Recarte, CEEV
  
• Katrine Gaustad Pettersen, Av og til
  
• Carole Brigaudeau, SpiritsEurope
  
• Geraldine Dichamp, Responsible Party