International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD)

Which policies are effective at combatting harmful drinking? Many in the public health community have claimed Scotland has led the way with a pioneering policy called Minimum Unit Pricing, designed to drive up the cost of cheap alcohol and drive down harmful drinking. However MUP may not be working as intended. This study suggests it has had no discernible impact on the consumption of those with alcohol dependence. This is the group most vulnerable to the health and behavioural impacts of harmful drinking. The UN strategy to tackle the harmful use of alcohol is working, with deaths related to alcohol down 20% (2010-19) according to the World Health Organisation. But as other jurisdictions consider MUP it will be important to focus on those policies that work. Evidence-based policy making matters.  https://lnkd.in/dFrRnYQX

Great to see this initiative aimed at improving safety. Safer roads everywhere are a top priority, and IARD has supported enforcement of the DR’s traffic safety laws related to alcohol consumption for decades:  https://lnkd.in/eRuZiwJR https://lnkd.in/ewVgcqrW

Great discussion in Poland on Free Market Ways to Improve Europeans Health. A big thank you to the organisers of the Freedom Games in Łódź for inviting me, and special thanks to Reem Ibrahim of the IEA for expertly chairing our panel. During my intervention, I highlighted: 👉The harmful alcohol use is a major health issue in Europe 👉The private sector has a responsibility to tackle this problem, and IARD was created to help, e.g promoting informed choice, and enforcing age restrictions 👉Applying the “tobacco playbook” to alcohol (banning advertising, pushing up prices) is misguided—moderate consumption should not be the target 👉The UN strategy focused on tackling the harmful use of alcohol, which leverages the private sector through a whole-of-society approach, is working 👉Deaths linked to alcohol have fallen 29% (2010-19) in Europe (WHO) Great to share the stage with David Zaruk and Sebastian Stodolak and looking forward to the next steps, including the UN High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases in 2025. #FreedomGames #PublicHealth #ResponsibleDrinking #FreeMarketSolutions

IARD is dedicated to reducing the harmful use of alcohol through collaboration with governments and civil society. We are proud participants of the UN Global Compact to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, a great example of the type of partnership between the public and private sectors that has already led to a 20% decrease in alcohol-related deaths globally over ten years. In our latest communication to the Global Compact (see below) we outline how our members have taken concrete steps to combat underage drinking by implementing new marketing standards in collaboration with leading digital platforms, as well as by working with retail and hospitality partners to prevent sales to minors, among other initiatives. We are committed to supporting further progress at the 2025 UN high-level meeting on NCDs and beyond. Let’s continue working together to advance the SDGs and to create a better world.

World Health Organization has found significant decreases in harm from excessive drinking (e.g., deaths fell 20% 2010-2019), but continued action is required. It's important to note that harm is driven by excessive drinking, which cannot be measured by per capita consumption. https://lnkd.in/eJUWxa8k

🍷Wine has been a part of society for thousands of years, and for many symbolises tradition, celebration, and community. IARD was delighted to join the discussion at the FIVS conference.    During the session we: ✊Recognised the longstanding commitment of our sector to reducing harmful drinking and discussed actions to further accelerate declines in alcohol-related deaths of 20% over the past decade ⚖️Reaffirmed our joint commitment to promote a culture of moderation and responsibility among those who choose to drink, encouraging informed decisions 🚀Reiterated our readiness to play an active role in global efforts to further progress reductions in the harmful use of alcohol as we approach the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in 2025.    Julie Hesketh-Laird Simon Stannard  #moderation #responsibility #UNNCDs #FIVSConference

Our message to the United Nations As CEO of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) I have just written to the Permanent Representatives to the UN in New York and Geneva, with my colleagues Justin Kissinger from the World Brewing Alliance and Helen Medina from the World Spirits Alliance. Our message to the ambassadors is clear: 👉Next year’s UN meeting on noncommunicable diseases is a vital opportunity to advance the UN's 2030 goals on reducing harmful alcohol use 👉The UN’s strategy with its whole-of-society approach, involving public and private collaboration, has helped reduced alcohol-related deaths by over 20% globally (2010-2019) according to the WHO 👉Since the UN tasked the private sector in 2018 with tackling underage drinking, we’ve partnered with major platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok to strengthen safeguards on alcohol marketing to minors 👉We've also developed standards for online sales, and built a Global Standards Coalition to tackle underage alcohol consumption across the value chain 👉We are ready to answer the call again in 2025, and be included in helping to deliver the final push Let’s together get these goals over the line by 2030!

We are honoured to win Global Drinks Intel's ESG Award 2024 in recognition of our work to raise standards. This is a testament to the power of partnership, with IARD's members and cross-sector partners coming together to raise standards to help reduce harmful consumption and promote moderation through informed choice. Global Drinks Intel recognised our work in three key areas: 👉 Our partnership with Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snap Inc., TikTok and X to enhance responsibility standards for alcohol-related marketing online, building confidence in age-assurance systems online and helping ensure that online alcohol advertising is directed only at adults who wish to engage with drinks brands. 👉 In raising standards in alcohol e-commerce to prevent sale to those underage or intoxicated. We partnered with prominent online retailers and e-commerce and delivery platforms to set standards – including Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat Takeaway.com, and JD.COM – and launched free resources to support anyone delivering alcohol to do so responsibly and in accordance with the law. 👉 In recognising the growing role of influencers in marketing, where we partnered with leading global advertising, public relations, and influencer agencies – including dentsu, Publicis Groupe, and Engine Creative – to set global standards for influencer marketing. Huge congratulations to IARD's Puja Darbari and Laura Brodie for their vision and leadership in this important work. We are delighted to see its impact recognised! See the first comment for more about our actions to raise standards. #ESG #Responsibility #Partnership AB InBev Asahi Group Holdings Bacardi Brown-Forman Carlsberg Group Diageo HEINEKEN Beverages #Kirin Moët Hennessy Molson Coors Beverage Company Pernod Ricard Suntory Global Spirits William Grant & Sons

Our members are the world's leading beer, wine, and spirits producers, and they undertake a wide range of Environmental, Social, and Governance (#ESG) initiatives around the world as part of their commitments to sustainability and social responsibility.  Find out more in our monthly column @Global Drinks Intel. See the link in the first comment. #responsibility