In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role corporations play in shaping public health policy, particularly focusing on the commercial determinants of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a clear conflict of interest between the economic objectives of companies producing harmful products and public health goals aimed at reducing consumption of these products.

Background

Research estimates that in England, if all drinkers reduced their alcohol consumption to within the recommended low-risk guidelines, alcohol sales revenue could decline by 38%. Activities of the alcohol industry have been identified as a significant barrier to public policy progress in reducing alcohol harm. International evidence demonstrates that alcohol industry actors are highly strategic and rhetorically sophisticated in influencing national policymaking to further their commercial interests.

The Need for Good Governance

The UK government has adopted detailed measures to protect public policy from tobacco industry interference. However, no current guidance exists to inform the management and prevention of conflict of interest in interactions with alcohol industry actors. Previous Public Health England (PHE) principles acknowledged that unhealthy commodity industries, including alcohol, use both subtle and aggressive tactics to disrupt and undermine positive actions from public health policy and initiatives.

Scope and Purpose

This document provides guidance for identifying, managing, and protecting against conflicts of interest associated with alcohol industry involvement in public health policy. The principles outlined have been developed through collaboration with alcohol policy and public health experts across the UK and informed by international best practices in managing interactions with unhealthy commodity industries. These principles are primarily intended to inform public health policy but could also inform engagement with industry in linked policy areas.

Definitions

• Alcohol Industry: This includes manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, wholesale distributors, major retailers, importers, business associations, and other non-State actors representing these entities.
• Conflicts of Interest: This refers to situations where a primary interest in promoting public health may be reasonably perceived to be unduly influenced by another interest, such as commercial gain.

Guiding Principles

Principle 1: Acknowledge Conflict of Interest

The WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan acknowledges the inherent contradiction between the interests of alcohol producers and public health. Extensive evidence demonstrates alcohol industry interference and undue influence on health policy, hindering progress to reduce alcohol harm in the UK and internationally.

Principle 2: Establish Good Governance Processes

Good governance processes should promote transparency and protect health-focused policymaking from alcohol industry interference. Transparency and accountability should be at the heart of these processes, with full details of all interactions with alcohol industry representatives made public.

Principle 3: Minimise Interactions

Interactions with alcohol industry bodies should be limited to consultation and information exchange about policy implementation. Alcohol industry bodies should not be involved in developing public health policies or funding or conducting education and health promotion activities.

Principle 4: Reject Partnerships

Public Health England’s principles state that engagement with the alcohol industry should not lead to or imply partnership, collaboration, or any similar type of engagement that could give the impression of a formal relationship. Interactions with alcohol industry bodies should not entail any formal collaboration and should not endorse corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Putting the Principles into Practice

The following guidelines ensure the principles for good governance are operationalised:

1. Meeting Purposes: The purpose, objectives, and scope of meetings with alcohol industry representatives should be determined in advance.
2. Participants: The names, positions, and affiliations of each participant representing the alcohol industry should be provided in advance.
3. Agenda and Documentation: The government/health agency should develop the meeting agenda, invite participants, and prepare the meeting report.
4. Transparency: It should be made clear that the meeting does not imply collaboration or partnership.
5. Location: Meetings should not take place at alcohol industry premises.
6. Attendance: At least two government/health agency staff members should be present at any meetings.
7. Documentation: Minutes of all meetings should be publicly available.

By adopting these principles, decision-makers can pursue policies that protect health, promote equity, and advance policy coherence with wider social and economic goals.

Source: IAS