Are we moving into a new era for alcohol policy globally? An analysis of the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-30

Abstract

The Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-30 (GAAP) represents an important milestone in policy implementation at the global level on alcohol and health. There has, however, been little attention paid to the GAAP in the research literature. With a focus on the alcohol industry, this analysis examines the content of, and prospects for, the GAAP. It is clear why stronger action on alcohol and health is needed. The health harming nature of alcohol and policy interference by industry are now clearly understood. The alcohol industry is now thus regarded primarily as a key part of the problem. The GAAP calls for action in six areas with specific roles for public health actors, and invites powerful industry actors to desist from harmful activities, within each area. The broad outline of what is expected of the alcohol industry is now clear. It remains unclear, however, how far countries will continue to face formidable opposition from the major alcohol companies and their surrogates, in adopting and implementing evidence-based measures. Governments must now act at speed, and it is unclear if the targets set for 2030 will be met. If this long-running public health policy failure continues, this will have dire consequences for low and middle income countries where the alcohol market is expanding. Stronger actions may also be needed.

Continuities and change in alcohol policy at the global level: a documentary analysis of the 2010 Global Strategy for Reducing the Harmful Use of Alcohol and the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022–2030

“…The impetus in alcohol policy development appears now to be heading in a clear direction of travel. This raises the stakes in the contest between global health and the alcohol industry [ 14 ]. Such a situation raises clear questions about how the major alcohol companies will respond.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that global institutions, particularly the WHO, are key sites of political contestation between the industry and public health actors over alcohol policy [ 7 – 13 ]. There is, however, a paucity of studies of how approaches to global alcohol policy development have actually shifted in substance in recent years [ 14 ].…”

Alcohol policy and advocacy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Recommendations and lessons learned

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Alcohol policy development and capacity building have gained great momentum over the last couple of years with significant efforts, new tools, initiatives and resources to accelerate research and progress, particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs; McCambridge, & Lesch, 2024;Parry & Fitzgerald, 2020;Swahn et al, 2022;Walls et al, 2020). In this first special issue of two, in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research (IJADR), we include nine manuscripts specifically focusing on alcohol policy and advocacy in LMICs.

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