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AFS welcomes new WHO report exposing damaging impact of Big Alcohol on public health

Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomes a new report published by WHO Europe exposing the wide ranging and damaging impact of specific powerful industries in driving ill health and premature death across the continent, by interfering in and influencing prevention and control efforts for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Alcohol is among four corporate products – including tobacco, ultra-processed foods and fossil fuels – which in Europe alone, are responsible for 2.7 million deaths per year – or 7,000 people per day.

The report, titled “Commercial determinants of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region” exposes a wide range of tactics used by industries to maximize profits and undermine public health.

‘Industry playbook’ strategies include overt and covert methods to delay, deter and block policies that would reduce the health harms caused by alcohol, including political lobbying and spreading misinformation and disinformation in the media.

The report also highlights the role of marketing in increasing exposure to these health harming products, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases, concluding that strong legal measures are needed to protect public health from harmful marketing practices.

The report goes on to say that: “To date, actions by individual governments, and intergovernmental organizations have been insufficient to prevent or restrict these harmful commercial practices.”

Responding to the report, Laura Mahon, Deputy CEO of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:

“This report serves as a shocking exposé of the tactics used by big industry – including by Big Alcohol - to maximise consumption and profit at the expense of the health and wellbeing of us all.

“It lays bare how Big Alcohol and others invest significant resources opposing public interest regulation and in manipulating scientific evidence and public discourse around their products, whilst seeking to shift the costs for the harm they cause onto individuals and the public purse.

“The report discusses the Scottish experience of MUP and efforts led by the Scotch Whisky Association to delay, deter and block the introduction of this life-saving policy. Whilst Scotland can celebrate an eventual and rare policy victory over Big Alcohol, the industry nonetheless succeeded in delaying the policy by 6 years – which has cost hundreds of lives.

“With the Scottish Government set to bring forth a revised consultation on alcohol marketing regulations, this report is a timely and important reminder of what civil society is up against, and what the Scottish Government will need to face down if Scotland wishes to maintain its position as a global leader on alcohol and public health policy. This is of critical importance now as we seek to drive down the rising tide of alcohol harm we have been experiencing since the pandemic.”