Drinks industry slated for influencing policy

The alcohol industry has been criticised in a new report for its ability to influence alcohol policies around the world and hampering efforts to reduce consumption rates.

Report criticises drinks industry on ability to influence government policies to curb alcohol consumption

Published in the journal PLoS Medicine, the research was carried out by the University of Newcastle in Australia and King’s College and the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London and showed that the ability of the alcohol industry to shape alcohol policy needs to be “curtailed” due to the “fundamental conflict of interest with reducing alcohol harms.

It accused the drinks industry of playing a role in policy-making to “create regulatory environments conducive to corporate interests”.

Researchers were particularly concerned with the influence in Australia, where the government is developing a new national alcohol strategy.

Meanwhile in England, the study showed that a combination of industry self-regulation, school education and campaigns aimed at binge drinkers only had failed to reduce alcohol misuse.

The report stated: “The resulting mix of approaches – industry self-regulation, targeting binge drinkers with largely punitive responses, public information, and school-based education – has not reduced alcohol harms.

“In fact, the situation has continued to worsen in England, with rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions approximately doubling within one decade.

“Other key indicators such as liver disease death rates have also risen markedly, during a period in which they have been falling in many other western European countries.”

New figures released earlier this year showed that alcohol consumption levels in the UK had hit a 23-year low, falling 18% compared to 10 years ago.

Meanwhile in Australia, while the country is drinking less alcohol overall than it has at any time over the past 15 years, spirits consumption has “remained relatively steady”.

On Tuesday, a review by a drugs and alcohol research group claimed alcohol advertising restrictions were not proven to reduce how much people drink.