‘The Fox Should Not Be in Charge of the Henhouse’: Government Shies Away from Big Liquor as it Reconsiders Health Guidelines
Two empty wine glasses, remains from last night. Photo by: Maximilian Schönherr/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
The Guardian reported Sunday that officials in the United Kingdom are being urged to keep the booze industry “at arm’s length” as they reconsider liquor policy guidelines to lower alcohol-related deaths after the country broke records and achieved a grim milestone of 10,000 alcohol-related fatalities.
The Institute of Alcohol Studies explained that any liquor companies involving themselves with alcohol policy is a “serious conflict of interest.”
“Just like tobacco companies, alcohol companies have a long history of disrupting and delaying health policy, which is why the World Health Organization advises governments to protect against undue influence from the alcohol industry,” IAS Chief Executive Dr. Katherine Severi said, according to The Guardian. “Alcohol companies, trade bodies and industry-funded front groups should be treated in a similar way to the tobacco industry, with all interactions a matter of public record and discussions limited to implementation of policies that have been developed in the public interest.”
When the IAS and other public health officials advised the government how to deal with policy relating to alcohol and the drinks business, it advised lawmakers to “minimize interactions with the industry.”
“Over 10,000 people a year in the UK die due to alcohol-related causes,” Alcohol Health Alliance Chair Professor Sir Ian Gilmore said, according to The Guardian. “Yet the industry that profits from these products is given a say in how they are regulated, priced, marketed and made available. The fox should not be in charge of the henhouse.”
Yet, other organizations disagree with the IAS. The UK’s Portman Group outright rejected the advice given by the IAS, calling it “narrow-minded” and claiming it was implemented by an organization “funded by the temperance movement.”
“For over 30 years the Portman Group’s self-regulatory system has effectively ensured that the industry has protected consumers from irresponsible marketing, and partnership working with the government has helped ensure that the vast majority of adults now choose to drink moderately, accompanied by sustained declines in underage drinking, antisocial behavior and binge drinking,” Portman Group Chief Executive Matt Lambert said, according to The Guardian. “It is vital to listen to a range of voices on these important issues and it would be counterproductive to exclude the expertise of the alcohol industry and self-regulatory bodies which do a huge amount to encourage responsible consumption.”
Since the World Health Organization released a study claiming that no amount of alcohol is safe, many European countries have begun to put their alcohol policy under the microscope.
Ireland issued a ban on liquor ads until after 9 p.m. in November, which is set to go into effect in January.
Given the recent push away from heavy liquor consumption, it appears to be unsurprising that governments are rethinking involving the liquor industry in policy making.
How the Alcohol Industry Influences Liquor Policy
Science Direct reported that it’s quite possible liquor producers, wholesalers and marketers “might have a major role in stalling effective policy development and implementation using tactics similar to those used by the tobacco and food industries.”
The outlet claimed the liquor industry shapes policy by “casting doubt” about the physical issues related to alcohol abuse and choosing to focus on underaged drinking and drunk driving.
The National Library Of Medicine reported that alcohol companies often heavily fund studies on the adverse effects of liquor consumption — yet the conflict of interest is obvious.
The organization referenced a $100 million dollar medical trial studying cardiovascular effects of alcohol. The study was funded by five major alcohol producers, and the study was aimed to promote the benefits of alcohol and heart health.
“This development arises against the backdrop of longstanding discussions within the research community about alcohol industry involvement in science,” the article read. “There are also wider concerns about corporate influence on public health sciences and policy and funding effects on research findings.”
It’s clear the alcohol industry is incredibly powerful and possesses enormous influence on policy making, and whether or not the United Kingdom intends to give the booze business the cold shoulder as it considers future health policies remains unclear. Yet it appears some politicians are leaning in that direction.
The Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne warned the industry the Labour Party wanted them to “do better.”
“If they as an industry are advocating for self-regulation but at the same time incentivizing higher-risk drinks through placement and advertising, do not expect the next Labour government to sit on its hands,” Gwynne said. “And I’ve issued this warning directly to them already. We are considering a wide range of different interventions. If they don’t shift, the next Labour government will make them shift.”
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