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HOME FACTS & RESEARCH |
Newsletter No 38, November 2000
Contents GLOBAL ALCOHOL POLICY ADVOCACY CONFERENCE,SYRACUSE, USA QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE CONFERENCE SUBMISSION TO AUSTRALIA NZ FOOD AUTHORITY (ANZFA) ALCOHOL LINKED TO THOUSANDS OF DEATHS Editorial:
GLOBAL
ALCOHOL POLICY ADVOCACY CONFERENCE,SYRACUSE, USA
Like tobacco, alcohol is a public health problem, as well as a personal health one. Business is making money from the damage caused by alcohol. The conference was sponsored by the London Institute of Alcohol Studies and the World Health Organization. Most countries were represented, with the exception of several African delegates who were not granted visas. NZ was represented by Professor Sally Casswell who was a keynote speaker, Dr Linda Hill and myself. The conference, through its participants, will make recommendations about where, when and to whom alcohol can be sold, the tax on alcohol, and rules about promotion. These will be based on research. Developing countries have few controls. Liquor companies are having a hay-day expanding their markets, almost unfettered. Drinking is increasing, especially of beer and spirits. These countries are developing the problems of alcohol that already exist here, some in much greater measure. Advertising is blatant, using images of youth, race and sex, which would not be acceptable here. Dishonest claims such as increasing energy levels, libido, or even promoting lactation, are made. Advertisements and liquor outlets are placed in greatest numbers where the young, the poor, and the indigenous congregate. The liquor industry is well organised globally, lobbying at all levels to smooth the path for alcohol sales. It employs its own researchers and PR people to present a friendly face. It donates to political parties; it appears to provide aid and educational resources. It involves itself in good causes. It is a powerful influence at decision-making levels. No doubt this is why it is so difficult to get little effective legislation to curb harm from alcohol. At the international level the industry body is ICAP, International Centre for Alcohol Policy. (Note the name, which sounds like a UN or government body.) In Europe it is the Amsterdam Group, in the UK the Portman group. In NZ, the Quay Group and the Beer Wine and Spirits Council. Dr Jim Grieshaber-Otto from Canada spoke of trade agreements through the WTO, Gatt and NAFTA. These enhance the power of multinational companies to trade, and diminish the power of governments to regulate them. Agreements outlaw state monopolies, and force governments to give foreign companies the same treatment as local ones. Norway and Sweden, with their restrictive alcohol laws and state monopolies, are under assault through trade agreements. Binding trade agreements are being made which will make public health measures more difficult. The need to confront the liquor industry globally was recognised by Professor Casswell. She identified a conflict of interest between the liquor industry and public health. A global network to work towards reducing harm from alcohol was set up. See next page for quotable quotes and take-home messages from this conference. Viola Palmer
QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE CONFERENCEDon't debate with the alcohol industry. Don't wrestle with a pig in the mud. You both get dirty and the pig loves it. He who controls the debate, wins the issue. "When a neighbourhood is saturated with alcohol billboards and liquor stores, it tells a child what were about." Rev M Pfleger Holding young people solely responsible for drinking is like holding fish responsible for dying in a polluted stream. TAKE HOME MESSAGESGlobal alcohol needs to be controlled globally. Local actions are important. If we do nothing harm will increase. Developing countries, indigenous people, the young and the poor, will bear the main burden. Advertising and sponsorship are important for getting and keeping markets.
COMPLAINTS WONA Hillcrest tavern flyer promo to students in which the words "the last supper" and other Biblical quotations were used was upheld as being offensive. A complaint against the Alamo Tavern, Hamilton in which they invited "Ladies pay $10 and get cocktails till midnight" was upheld. It encouraged immoderate consumption. A Bird's Liquorsave newspaper ad that emphasised the alcoholic strength of a drink was upheld. A flyer from them did the same. If you see an ad which you are doubtful about contact Cliff Turner. Ph 07 855 3638 WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THIS?After GALA wrote to Rt Hon Jenny Shipley urging her to vote for labelling, the following reply was received. "Thank you for your letter. As you may be aware I voted for the introduction of the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill which will see labelling on bottles." HEALTH AND SAFETY WARNINGS ON ALCOHOL CONTAINERSOn October 11 Parliament debated and voted down Dianne Yates' private member's bill to have health and safety messages on containers. The bill was defeated by 60 to 52 votes. It was a conscience vote, and many consciences were not working too well that evening. The debate was of poor quality, much of it based on MPs personal opinions and anecdotes. It is sad news for the alcohol-damaged children who will be born, and people who will be in drink drive crashes that may have been prevented. MPs who voted against are out of step with their electorates. It is difficult to understand why so many MPs voted against this simple and inexpensive public health measure. The answer lies in the power of the liquor industry that went to a lot of trouble and expense to lobby against the bill. They know that labelling of tobacco products has been effective. We thank Dianne Yates for the enthusiasm and vision with which she has pursued this issue. Those who voted for the bill were: J Anderton, D Awatere-Huata, T Barnett, D Benson-Pope, G Beyer, S Bradford, K Campbell, C Carter, S Chadwick, H Clark, D Cunliffe, L Dalziel, R Donald, H Duncan, H Duynhoven, R Dyson, I Ewen-Street, J Fitzsimons, S Franks, M Gallagher, G Gillon, P Goff, L Gordon, L Harre, A Hartley, P Heatley, M Hobbs, P Hutchison, W Jackson, J Keall, S Kedgley, G Kelly, W Laban, S Lee, K Locke, J Mackey, S Maharey, M Okeroa, J Pettis, M Ririnui, M Robson, T Steel, J Tamihere, N Tanczos, G te Heuheu, A Tolley, T Turia, M Wilson, P Wong, J Wright, D Yates. Against were: A Anae, S Ardern, R Barker, M Bradford, G Braybrooke, P Brown, G Brownlee, M Burton, D Carter, J Carter, C Cosgrove, W Creech, M Cullen, B Donnelly, P Dunne, G Eckhoff, B English, T Field, M Hasler, G Herlihy, R Hide, P Hodgson, J Hunt, O Jennings, D Kidd, W Kyd, J Luxton, M McCully, W Mapp, R Mark, B Neeson, M Newman, D O'Connor, M Peck, W Peters, S Power, R Prebble, K Rich, R Robertson, E Roy, T Ryall, D Samuels, L Scott, J Shipley, K Shirley, B Simcock, C Simich, L Smith, N Smith, R Sowry, P Swain, L Tisch, J Tizard, S Upton, B Vernon, P Webster, M Williamson, D Woolerton, R Worth, A Young. No recorded vote: M Gosche, J Hawke, G Hawkins, P Horomia, A King, N Mahuta, T Mallard, J Sutton. SUBMISSION TO AUSTRALIA NZ FOOD AUTHORITY (ANZFA)GALA made a submission to this inter-country body in support of a request from Australia's Society Without Alcohol Trauma (SWAT) to have labels on alcohol containers. After a year ANZFA turned down the request, citing the usual arguments of ineffectiveness, difficulty, expense, and other methods of education being preferable. The most amazing argument was that health messages could be against WTO rules, unless they can be shown to be effective. If their introduction is prohibited, how can they be shown to be effective? Catch-22. These lame arguments did not impress us, especially as alcohol containers for the US market already carry health messages. SWAT made an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Australia, for a review of the decision. GALA has been given interested party status, and has sent a further submission. Watch this space. We are glad that ANZFA has approved standard drinks labelling i.e. telling how many standard (10g alcohol) drinks are in a container.
YOUTH DRINKING
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