The WHO Global Alcohol Strategy: What Role for Industry? Jim Finkle FIVS President Istanbul, Turkey 14 June 2012

A challenging external environment Ongoing attempts to exclude industry (conflict of interest) Intensification of efforts to discredit industry Unjustified criticisms of marketing and self-regulation Old battles on new fronts – UN/NCDs, OECD and WHO Regions WHO promoting favoured policies (‘best buys’ and reduction in consumption targets) Industry contribution – specific, targets, measurable NGOs getting better organised and more professional Tobacco-style framework convention on alcohol

Current 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 WHO progress report of Global Alcohol Strategy – 2013 Alcohol Producers’ Commitments

63 rd World Health Assembly adopts resolution WHA63.13 Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol

WHO 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 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 alcohol Monitoring and surveillance

WHO Global Strategy – role for industry 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 Project STUDY 1STUDY 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 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 engagement Underage drinking Drinking and driving Consumer information Alcohol education Server training Production Distribution Availability Price Marketing Targeted Interventions Partnerships Traditional areasNew opportunities

Working Together Many common interests and common goals Some common membership Experience of working together to achieve positive results, e.g., WHO Global Strategy Identify key issues and share perspectives when needed Align positions and reach out to priority Member States for engagement

Industry Actors GAPG Global Alcohol Producers Group Social Aspects Organisations (e.g. Century Council)

FIVS’ Role vis-a-vis the international community 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? Tobacco 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.