Letter from the Global Alcohol Producers Group.

Abstract

Sir—Your recent editorial, ‘Who is responsible for the public's health?’, not only contains inaccuracies but, more disturbingly, evinces an antiscientific and anti-inclusive bias. The Beer, Wine and Spirits Producers' Commitments announced in October 2012 were developed to support Member States in implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol—not as an alternative to the Global Strategy, as you misstate. We have consistently advocated for an evidence-based and inclusive approach to reducing the harmful use of alcohol, recognizing that no single stakeholder group has all the answers to a complex and serious problem such as harmful drinking. Your editorial states ‘that the alcohol industry has an ethical responsibility to minimize the harm caused by its products …’. We agree that we have an important role to play in helping to reduce harmful drinking in countries around the world. That is why we have pledged to implement these Commitments, which address critical dimensions of harmful use that are within our core competencies, as defined by WHO; yet the editors of Addiction seem intent on disparaging any role that global producers play, no matter how helpful or well-intentioned. Your editorial is also misleading in reporting a sensational and exaggerated battle between alcohol producers and public health over control of alcohol policy. Let us be very clear: producers are not seeking to determine alcohol policy, which is the preserve of governments. Governments rightly seek views and ideas on policy during its development and, in those circumstances, we make our views known and will continue to do so. However, we do not dispute that final decisions about policy are matters for governments. The assertion that expansion of producers into emerging economies depends upon minimum regulation is untrue, and nothing more than an unsubstantiated theory of the authors. Most countries in the world have some degree of regulatory framework, and producers are accustomed to running successful businesses even in highly regulated environments. Producers are also involved in calling for strengthening regulation, where appropriate or necessary—for example, by encouraging implementation and enforcement of laws that prohibit underage drinking and drink driving. Suggesting that producers do not support ‘effective’ policy is no more than saying that we have different views on what is effective. Underlying your editorial is a zero-sum view about ‘who owns public health in so far as alcohol policy is concerned’. No one ‘owns’ public health. Alcohol producers are committed to working with all stakeholders, and to sharing our insights, research and resources in the interest of combating harmful drinking. We hope the editors of Addiction are, as well. None.