Alcohol industry corporate social responsibility activities in Nigeria: implications for policy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The article synthesized the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of multinational alcohol companies (MACs) in Nigeria, highlighting their policy implications. Methods We searched alcohol companies’ websites for CSR activities that they have executed/executing and also included media reportage of such activities. Results Alcohol companies’ CSR initiatives cover education, health, agriculture, Covid-19, employment, and responsible drinking campaigns (RDCs). Most of the CSR projects are linked to legitimate international/local initiatives (e.g., positioned to support SDGs or government/community projects). The health-related CSR initiatives focus on government-owned University Teaching Hospitals, while others support community-owned and faith-based hospitals. The Agro-based CSR projects appear to be self-serving because they mainly support farmers who produce the raw materials for the industry’s use. The RDCs mainly target commercial vehicle drivers to create awareness about the consequences of drink-driving, but they neither mention nor encourage abstinence. The drink-driving campaigns are avenues MACs exploit to market their brands through branded T-Shirts, banners, and other paraphernalia. Alcohol producers conduct the available evaluations of the CSR initiatives, portraying only public-serving motivations while concealing the company-serving purposes. Conclusion There is a need to investigate the public perceptions of industry-led CSR initiatives independently to evaluate their actual impact and inform policy implementation.