Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) comments on publication of the World Health Organization’s “Alcohol Policy Playbook”.
Dr Peter Rice, Chair of SHAAP said:
“The Playbook lays bare the manipulative tactics the alcohol industry employs across the globe, and myth-busts many of the lines they use to minimise the extent of alcohol harm.
“The industry pretends that health harms are confined to people who are alcohol dependent when in reality all levels of consumption of alcohol can damage health. Harms can range from hangovers, anxiety, and antisocial behaviour through to cardiovascular disease and cancer.
“Much is made by the industry of its economic contribution and it frequently warns that public health interventions such as restricting availability will have a disastrous effect on the economy and lead to the loss of jobs. In reality the cost of alcohol to the public purse is far greater and the cost of harmful drinking to the Scottish economy is estimated at around £1.2 billion a year. Policies which lead to a reduction in alcohol consumption can have significant economic benefits and consumers are likely to redirect their spending elsewhere, while governments can reallocate savings made to public services.
“This playbook makes clear the dangerous influence those with vested interests have on public health policy. We saw intense lobbying by the industry in the run up to the UK general election and the budget and are likely to see similar before the 2026 Scottish election.
“I urge politicians of all parties to remember that the primary motivation of the alcohol industry is to make profits and to treat what its representatives say about policies that might impact industry profits with a huge note of caution.”
Read our blog on the industry’s tactics: WHO Alcohol Industry Playbook: Understanding the industry’s shameful tactics
