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Irish alcohol policy conference excludes drinks trade
The Irish drinks industry has criticised an upcoming alcohol policy conference for failing to include trade members, claiming discussions will likely be unbalanced as a result.
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference will take place in Dublin next month
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference will take place in Dublin on 9-11 March as part of a collaboration between the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), Ireland’s Department of Health and alcohol policy NGOs.
The three-day event will have the theme: ‘Alcohol, Equity and Global Health: the benefit of alcohol control for sustainable development for all.’
According to GAPA chair Sally Casswell, the “need for evidence-based alcohol policies has never been more pronounced”.
“The conference is an opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions and exchange of ideas in a unique atmosphere, free from the vested interests of the alcohol industry,” she said. “This is an important part of GAPA’s portfolio of activities aimed to fulfil our mission: to promote evidence-based alcohol policies free from commercial interest.”
As such, the conference will host policy makers, advocates, researchers, activists and practitioners, but not drinks trade representatives.
Patricia Callan, director of Drinks Ireland, criticised the move. She said: “We welcome open dialogue, discussion and debate about tackling alcohol misuse and underage drinking. It’s important that all relevant stakeholders, including the drinks industry, are part of developing solutions to both.
“As such, with regards the Global Alcohol Policy Conference, we have concerns that industry stakeholders will not be part of the discussion, which means the discussion is likely to be unbalanced.”
Callan added that since 2003, the Irish drinks industry has “adhered to some of the strictest advertising codes in the world”, contributing to the drop in underage drinking in Ireland.
According to Central Statistics Office and Revenue Commissioner data cited by Drinks Ireland, the average per adult alcohol consumption has fallen by 23.2% in Ireland since 2001.
However, NGOs and government agencies continue to express concern over excessive drinking in Ireland. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act was published in Ireland in 2015, laying the foundations for the introduction of minimum unit pricing and tougher marketing restrictions for alcohol brands.
“We remain committed to doing our part to further reduce both alcohol misuse and underage drinking and support the overall objectives of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act,” added Callan. “We favour measures that are proportionate, evidence-based and effective. ”