Alcohol industries emerging markets a public health challenge Øystein Bakke FORUT APN Symposium, Edinburgh, 6 October 2015
Aspects of alcohol harm and its relevance for international instruments SDGs: Alcohol problems include a great variety of social, health and socio-economic problems. WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol: All health problems related to alcohol, including harm to others. UN/WHO NCD process: Chronic health problems related to alcohol (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes.)
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well being 3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol 3.6 by 2020 halve global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
Consumption levels, patterns and trends In developing countries with low mortality alcohol is the leading cause of early death and disability Alcohol causes more harm pr liter in low and middle income countries Half of world s population do not drink Globalized western culture increase in consumption Many low and middle income countries have traditional binge drinking culture Unrecorded alcohol
Development issue Health problem Non-communicable diseases Injuries and traffic fatalities Infectious diseases (HIV, TB) Developmental problem Poverty Gender equality and gender-based violence Child rights
Challenges to the industry Stagnating consumption in the West Health concern Aging population Saturated markets Globalisation, increased competition, centralised structure Worries of going down the tobacco line Emerging European health policies (EU) and more regulations of the US markets (21 years drinking age)
Industrial epidemics Vector is not biological but strong industrial companies Consumption of unhealthy products Environmental problems Industrial vector: alcohol industry Emerging markets BRICS and beyond Marketing driven Mergers and acquisitions
Industrial epidemics Shaping the policy context Self regulation Opposing control policies Free trade, bi- and multilateral trade agreements Corporate Social Responsibility Partnerships and engagement Individualistic approach Personal freedom rather than public health Drinking patterns rather than per capita consumption Targeted approaches include educational efforts and prevention strategies aimed at those at greatest risk for harm
Industrial epidemics Diageo plans to push further into Africa's beer market and invest more in emerging markets in Asia and Latin America as consumer demand for alcoholic drinks in Europe and North America continues to falter. Just-Drinks, 26 August 2010
Alcohol and development Need to view the growing problems related to alcohol use as a structural and societal problem rather than an individualistic one. Requires political interventions Not only education and personal responsibility
[ ] it is not just Big Tobacco anymore. Public health must also contend with Big Food, Big Soda, and Big Alcohol. All of these industries fear regulation, and protect themselves by using the same tactics. Research has documented these tactics well. They include front groups, lobbies, promises of self-regulation, lawsuits, and industryfunded research that confuses the evidence and keeps the public in doubt. WHO DG Dr. Margaret Chan Health promotion conference, Helsinki 10 June 2013
History has shown that population-based interventions, such as tax increases and restrictions on sales and marketing, in fact, often have unintended, harmful consequences in the long term. ABInBev Connecting for a Better World 2013
I am deeply concerned by two recent trends. The first relates to trade agreements. Governments introducing measures to protect the health of their citizens are being taken to court, and challenged in litigation. This is dangerous. WHO DG Dr. Margaret Chan Health promotion conference, Helsinki 10 June 2013
More headlines: SpiritsEurope urges EU to tie up global trade deals (25 June 2015) Treasury Wine Estates, Pernod Ricard hail China-Aus FTA (26 June 2015) New SWA head eyes post-election for India FTA push (21 February 2014) Emerging markets key to Scotch whisky growth (7 October 2014)
Alcohol policy by the industry Since 2007: several initiatives to develop national alcohol policies in sub-saharan African countries: Lesotho Uganda Malawi Botswana Ghana Swaziland Zambia
The Government will encourage active participation by all levels of the beverage alcohol industry as a key partner in the policy formulation and implementation process.
Alcohol, health and development Driving forces: Alcohol industry Marketing of unhealthy products Opposes public health policy Promotes alternative science Personal choice and individual freedom Poverty and social determinants of health NCD risk factors: Alcohol Tobacco Poor nutrition Physical inactivity Disease burden HIV risk factors: Alcohol High risk sexual behaviour Violence against women Chronic diseases, HIV, injuries and their risk factors limit the ability to reach development goals SDGs: End poverty (SDG 1) HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB (SDG 3.3) NCDs (SDG 3.4) Substance abuse (SDG 3.5) Traffic accidents (SDG 3.6) Effect of chronic disease and their risk factors on individuals and families: Low productivity Increased risk of disabilities High household expenditures, which include health care Increased risk of premature death Adapted from :Geneau, R. et. al. (2010) Chronic Diseases and Development. The Lancet, Vol 376 Nov 13, 2010
Left to right: Asahi, Carlsberg, Bacardi CEO Mike Dolan, Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes, Beam Suntory CEO Matt Shattock, Heineken CEO Jean Francois van Boxmeer, IARD CEO Ann Keeling, AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito, Pernod Ricard CEO Alexandre Ricard, SAB Miller CEO Alan Clark, Molson Coors, Kirin/Lion, Brown Forman
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