261864 Relentless challenges: An update on current challenges to nations' alcohol and tobacco public health measures by means of international trade agreements and what we can do about it

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 2:48 PM - 3:02 PM

Donald Zeigler, PhD , Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
International trade agreements have provisions that may be used to challenge effective alcohol and tobacco control policies which corporations and trade-friendly governments consider to be constraints on trade. The presentation is an update on trade agreements and the recent challenges to public health measures in the US, Thailand, Australia, Brazil and others, arguments used against prevention policies to combat tobacco and alcohol problems at the national level. There will be a discussion of counter measures by the public health community that might help assure strategies to support prevention and wellness for all communities.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Identify recent developments by governments and corporations using international trade agreements to challenge alcohol and tobacco control policies. Differentiate possible counter measures available to governments and the public health community

Keywords: Alcohol, Tobacco Control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have researched and advocated for public health policy on trade. Have published a number of papers and presented at national and international conferences on this topic.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.