In this period of rapid economic and cultural globalization, the global alcohol industry has spread far more quickly than the tools, strategies and networks designed to counter its marketing, and to reduce hazardous use of alcohol and to prevent alcohol-related problems. To remedy this, public health policy advocates in the alcohol field have met and prepared a coordinated plan of action by non-governmental organizations from five continents. This presentation reports on the shared learnings from those meetings, the global agenda for action that has been prepared, and the participants in this new global alliance. The meetings have focused on the global alcohol situation, policy issues and barriers to action, and global responses by public health organizations, professionals and communities. Common issues identified for action were: alcohol and young people; alcohol and violence; alcohol in international trade agreements; alcohol advertising and sports sponsorships; influence of the global alcohol industry in policy-making, including the efforts of its "social aspects" organizations; and the impact of research on alcohol’s potential protective effect against heart disease on alcohol policy advocacy.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will learn more about the spread of the global alcohol industry. They will be able to identify and define six key common areas for international collaboration among public health advocates, apply internationally-developed strategies to these areas, and access and build collaboration with organizations playing lead roles in countering the public health impact of the spreading global drinks industry
Keywords: Alcohol Problems, International Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.