Industry seeks solutions to alcohol abuse

Some of the drinks industry’s leading figures will come together in London next week to discuss ways of working together to reduce harmful alcohol consumption across the world.

In 2010 the World Health Organisation will agree on a global strategy to tackle the problem, while lively debates on the topic continue among politicians, media and the public on an almost daily basis.

Industry figures including Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, and SAB Miller chief executive Graham Mackay will speak at the launch of the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) book, Working Together to Reduce Harmful Drinking, which gives a unique insight into top alcohol producers’ submissions to the global alcohol strategy process.

According to ICAP, the book demonstrates that alcohol producers do not shy away from tackling the thorny problems of alcohol advertising bans and increasing pricing.

It also sheds light on other problems, such as the fact nearly one third of all alcohol consumed globally is non-commercial or illegal, and outlines areas for possible future involvement of the alcohol producers.
 
An ICAP spokesperson said: “Working Together to Reduce Harmful Drinking endorses a balanced approach to alcohol policy that involves stakeholders coming together to produce workable strategies, including governments, law enforcement, public health organisations, communities, and the industry.

“At this crucial stage, the industry underlines the importance of the WHO process, as nobody wants the WHO process to result in bad regulation and ineffective implementation, least of all the alcohol producers.”
 
The event takes place on Thursday 26 November at the Paramount Club on the top floor of the Centre Point building at 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1.

For further details contact Abigail Jones at aj@abjoconsult.com

Alan Lodge, 18.11.2009