The Impact of Alcohol Policy on Adolescent Drinking
Why be an alcohol policy advocate?
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1
Remembering Dr Evelyn Gillan
Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland and co-founder
of the Zero Tolerance Campaign
1959–2015
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Globally 5th leading cause of ill health & premature death
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Harm to individual health includes increased risk of cancer (liver,
breast, mouth, larynx…), ischemic heart disease, liver cirrhosis,
poisoning, mental health
•
Harm to society includes: violent crime, social disorder, domestic
abuse, rape, suicide, accidents, homicides, RTAs…
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Harm throughout the life course: exposure during pregnancy can
impair brain development of fetus, adolescent exposure increases
risk of dependence in later life
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Major determinant of health inequalities and inhibitor of economic
development
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Places huge strain on public services and economy
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Changing nature of alcohol industry – alcohol
is a global commodity
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Mass marketing and global brands
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‘Emerging markets’ targeted
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Affordability
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Availability
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Change in social perceptions
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1.
Alcohol taxes and other price controls
2.
Regulate physical availability through restrictions on time, place,
and density of alcohol outlets
3.
Regulate alcohol advertising and other marketing
4.
Alter the drinking context
5.
Drink-driving countermeasures
6.
Conduct screening and brief intervention in health care settings;
increase availability of treatment programmes
7.
Education and persuasion: provide information to adults and young
people especially through mass media, workplace and school-
based alcohol education programmes
* WHO ‘best buys’, endorsed by OECD
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There is no silver bullet
…
A comprehensive framework of policies is
needed to effectively tackle alcohol harm
•
Have a strong evidence base
•
Cover a range of policy areas
•
Be supported by and understood by the
public
•
Be culturally sensitive
•
Target the population as a whole and support
at-risk individuals
•
Be based on public health interests
•
Be free from vested commercial interests
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Evidence based policy versus political
expediency
•
Increased taxes and restrictions on alcohol
politically unpopular
•
Population level approaches seen as state
interference
•
Political priorities and other distractions
•
Economic arguments and influence of drinks
industry
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Policy change occurs when three streams of
activity collide:
1.
Problem Stream (evidence of need for action)
2.
Policy Stream (evidence of effective solution)
3.
Political Stream (political will to act)
•
Policy entrepreneurs can work to bring these
streams together to create windows of
opportunity for policy change
•
Policy entrepreneurs can come from a range of
backgrounds, including public interest NGOs &
industry bodies
T
h
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y
S
t
r
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a
m
s
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Estimated US $1 trillion global industry
•
Fund Social Aspect PR Organizations
•
Promote ‘drink responsibly’ messages - puts focus and
responsibility for harm on the drinker, not the product
•
Promote ineffective measures and oppose effective
measures – e.g. voluntary codes on advertising (‘self
regulation’)
•
Active engagement in alcohol policy arena - lobbying,
political donations, policy development (especially in
emerging markets)
•
Engagement in research - publishing, funding,
sponsoring conferences, discredit research into effective
policies
A
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u
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t
r
y
a
c
t
i
v
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i
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s
•
The alcohol control movement works to
reduce the devastating impact of alcohol
harm on individuals, families and
communities around the world
•
The movement needs advocates who can
engage with politicians, opinion formers and
the general public to raise their awareness of
the importance of protecting people –
especially children and young people – from
exposure to alcohol harms
R
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Fewer lives cut short as a result of alcohol
•
Fewer people suffering ill health and disability
due to alcohol
•
Fewer people negatively affected by other
people’s drinking
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•
Evidence-informed, population approaches to alcohol
policy and in particular, controls on price and availability.
•
A clear distinction to be made in the public policy
process between organizations representing the public
interest and those representing commercial vested
interests.
•
Measures which protect children and young people from
exposure to alcohol harms, including increased
regulation of alcohol marketing and restrictions on
alcohol sponsorship of sports events and events with
youth appeal.
S
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.
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Decision-makers = the people who make the decisions
about what kind of alcohol policies will be implemented
at local, national or international level.
•
Opinion leaders = the people who influence the decision-
makers.
•
Grassroots = Everyday citizens/residents who when
joined into groups and coalitions can influence decision
makers and opinion leaders
•
Alcohol has enormous health and social
costs, particularly for young people
•
Policies are available that can reduce these
costs, but they are not used consistently due
to barriers
•
Advocacy in the policy arena can make a
difference between good policy and bad
policy
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m
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Reducing the devastating impact of alcohol on individuals, families and communities requires the implementation of effective public health solutions. Our capacity to effectively educate, motivate and engage the public in the development of public health policies that confront the harsh realities of young people’s exposure to alcohol harms require that we provide a practical “how to” toolkit of resources and information that can applied at the local, national and international level. The aim of this workshop is to facilitate implementation of evidence-informed alcohol policy at the local, national and international levels with a particular focus on protecting children and young people from alcohol harm. It is designed to provide logistical support for activities leading to the development of an international network of policy advocates working toward the common goal of reducing the harm caused by alcohol.
A related aim is to provide logistical support for activities leading to the development of an international network of policy advocates working toward the common goal of reducing the harm caused by alcohol.
Alcohol policy advocacy is crucial due to the harmful effects of alcohol on individual health, society, and economic development. Dr. Evelyn Gillan's work highlights the importance of addressing alcohol-related issues, particularly among adolescents. Alcohol misuse contributes to various health problems and social harms globally, making it imperative to focus on intervention areas like pricing controls, advertising regulation, and education.
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Presentation Transcript
Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking: Using Science in the Public Interest Module 1 Why be an alcohol policy advocate? Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking
Remembering Dr Evelyn Gillan Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland and co-founder of the Zero Tolerance Campaign 1959 2015 Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking
Alcohol the problem Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 3
Alcohol the problem Globally 5th leading cause of ill health & premature death Harm to individual health includes increased risk of cancer (liver, breast, mouth, larynx ), ischemic heart disease, liver cirrhosis, poisoning, mental health Harm to society includes: violent crime, social disorder, domestic abuse, rape, suicide, accidents, homicides, RTAs Harm throughout the life course: exposure during pregnancy can impair brain development of fetus, adolescent exposure increases risk of dependence in later life Major determinant of health inequalities and inhibitor of economic development Places huge strain on public services and economy Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 4
Why has alcohol become such a problem? Changing nature of alcohol industry alcohol is a global commodity Mass marketing and global brands Emerging markets targeted Affordability Availability Change in social perceptions Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 5
Alcohol: No ordinary commodity Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 6
Seven policy areas for intervention 1. 2. Alcohol taxes and other price controls Regulate physical availability through restrictions on time, place, and density of alcohol outlets Regulate alcohol advertising and other marketing Alter the drinking context Drink-driving countermeasures Conduct screening and brief intervention in health care settings; increase availability of treatment programmes Education and persuasion: provide information to adults and young people especially through mass media, workplace and school- based alcohol education programmes * WHO best buys , endorsed by OECD 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 7
There is no silver bullet A comprehensive framework of policies is needed to effectively tackle alcohol harm Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking
Effective alcohol policy must Have a strong evidence base Cover a range of policy areas Be supported by and understood by the public Be culturally sensitive Target the population as a whole and support at-risk individuals Be based on public health interests Be free from vested commercial interests Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 9
Barriers to effective alcohol policies Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 10
Barriers to effective alcohol policies Evidence based policy versus political expediency Increased taxes and restrictions on alcohol politically unpopular Population level approaches seen as state interference Political priorities and other distractions Economic arguments and influence of drinks industry Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 11
Policy windows of opportunity Policy change occurs when three streams of activity collide: 1. Problem Stream (evidence of need for action) 2. Policy Stream (evidence of effective solution) 3. Political Stream (political will to act) Policy entrepreneurs can work to bring these streams together to create windows of opportunity for policy change Policy entrepreneurs can come from a range of backgrounds, including public interest NGOs & industry bodies Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 12
Three Policy Streams Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 13
Alcohol industry activities Estimated US $1 trillion global industry Fund Social Aspect PR Organizations Promote drink responsibly messages - puts focus and responsibility for harm on the drinker, not the product Promote ineffective measures and oppose effective measures e.g. voluntary codes on advertising ( self regulation ) Active engagement in alcohol policy arena - lobbying, political donations, policy development (especially in emerging markets) Engagement in research - publishing, funding, sponsoring conferences, discredit research into effective policies Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 14
Role of alcohol policy advocates The alcohol control movement works to reduce the devastating impact of alcohol harm on individuals, families and communities around the world The movement needs advocates who can engage with politicians, opinion formers and the general public to raise their awareness of the importance of protecting people especially children and young people from exposure to alcohol harms Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 15
What do we want the objectives of alcohol control advocacy Fewer lives cut short as a result of alcohol Fewer people suffering ill health and disability due to alcohol Fewer people negatively affected by other people s drinking We want children and young people to grow up in a society which protects them from exposure to alcohol harms Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 16
Strategic advocacy goals Evidence-informed, population approaches to alcohol policy and in particular, controls on price and availability. A clear distinction to be made in the public policy process between organizations representing the public interest and those representing commercial vested interests. Measures which protect children and young people from exposure to alcohol harms, including increased regulation of alcohol marketing and restrictions on alcohol sponsorship of sports events and events with youth appeal. Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 17
A successful advocacy strategy will seek to influence both decision-makers, opinion leaders and grassroots groups. Decision-makers = the people who make the decisions about what kind of alcohol policies will be implemented at local, national or international level. Opinion leaders = the people who influence the decision- makers. Grassroots = Everyday citizens/residents who when joined into groups and coalitions can influence decision makers and opinion leaders Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking
Summary: Why be an alcohol policy advocate? Alcohol has enormous health and social costs, particularly for young people Policies are available that can reduce these costs, but they are not used consistently due to barriers Advocacy in the policy arena can make a difference between good policy and bad policy Alcohol Policy and Adolescent Drinking 19
