The WHO Global Alcohol The WHO Global Alcohol Strategy: What Role for Industry?Strategy: What Role for Industry?

Jim FinkleFIVS PresidentIstanbul, Turkey14 June 2012

A challenging external environmentA challenging external environment

Ongoing attempts to exclude industry (conflict of interest)Intensification of efforts to discredit industryUnjustified criticisms of marketing and self-regulationOld battles on new fronts – UN/NCDs, OECD and WHO RegionsWHO promoting favoured policies (‘best buys’ and reduction in consumption targets)Industry contribution – specific, targets, measurableNGOs getting better organised and more professionalTobacco-style framework convention on alcohol

Current Issues and PrioritiesCurrent Issues and Priorities

‘Best buys’ policies (high taxes, bans on advertising, restrictions on availability)

NCD targets and indicators – 10% reduction in consumption

Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020

WHO progress report of Global Alcohol Strategy – 2013

Alcohol Producers’ Commitments

6363rdrd World Health Assembly World Health Assembly adopts resolution adopts resolution WHA63.13WHA63.13

Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol

WHO Global Alcohol StrategyWHO Global Alcohol Strategy

Adopted by World Health Assembly 2010

Non-binding guidance to Member State governments

Menu of options v ‘one-size fits all’

Focused on ‘harmful use’ v consumption per se

Role for industry and other stakeholders

Implementation at regional and national level

WHO Global Strategy – target areasWHO Global Strategy – target areas

Leadership, awareness and commitment Health services’ response Community action Drink–driving policies and countermeasures Availability of alcohol Marketing of alcoholic beverages Pricing policies Reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication Reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcoholMonitoring and surveillance

WHO Global Strategy – role for WHO Global Strategy – role for industryindustry

45. Action by WHO and other international partners to support the implementation of the global strategy will be taken according to their mandates.

(d) Economic operators in alcohol production and trade are important players in their role as developers, distributors, marketers and sellers of alcoholic beverages. They are especially encouraged to consider effective ways to prevent and reduce harmful use of alcohol within their core roles mentioned above, including self-regulatory actions and initiatives. They could also contribute by making available data on sales and consumption of alcohol beverages.

The OECD Alcohol Policy The OECD Alcohol Policy ProjectProject

STUDY 1 STUDY 2 Health and economic

impacts of alcohol control policies

Collaboration with WHO, Statistics Canada, and others

Link between alcohol consumption and disease

Review of individual-level alcohol consumption patterns

Investigation of overall consumption and high-risk drinking behaviours

Differences in alcohol consumption across age and social groups

What industry can doWhat industry can do

Demonstrate initiative and active engagement

Implement programs at national level

Encourage and support initiatives where they are currently absent or weak

Build partnerships and collaborations within industry, with governmental bodies, and community organizations

Implement sustainable and culturally appropriate measures

Evaluate initiative outcomes and impact

Areas for industry Areas for industry engagementengagement

Underage drinking

Drinking and driving

Consumer information

Alcohol education

Server training

ProductionDistributionAvailabilityPrice Marketing Targeted Interventions

Partnerships

Traditional areas New opportunities

Working TogetherWorking Together

Many common interests and common goalsSome common membershipExperience of working together to achieve positive results, e.g., WHO Global StrategyIdentify key issues and share perspectives when neededAlign positions and reach out to priority Member States for engagement

Industry ActorsIndustry Actors

GAPGGlobal

Alcohol

Producers

Group

Social Aspects Organisations (e.g. Century Council)

FIVS’ Role vis-a-vis the international FIVS’ Role vis-a-vis the international communitycommunity

Working with those heavily involved in this area and reporting to membership

Monitoring mechanism for ongoing and new industry initiatives (company, sector, cross-sector)

Reporting at conferences and meetings developments and progress made by industry members

Individual companies and trade associations encouraged to use existing channels to communicate with the governments of Member States with which they have close relations

The Future?The Future?Tobacco Treaty provisionsTobacco Treaty provisions

1. Complete ban on all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

2. Health warnings on packaging that cover at least 30% (but preferably more than 50%) of all principal display areas.

3. Ban on use of so-called “deceptive terms” such as “light” or “mild”.

4. Regular increases in taxes to ensure that price of products increase by at least 5% over inflation every year.

5. Exclusion of industry representatives from all treaty negotiations.

6. Countries encouraged to take legal action against industry.