Should public health bodies stop commissioning research from market research companies that serve the tobacco industry?

Brown, Jamie; Michie, Susan; Raupach, Tobias; West, Robert

doi:10.1111/add.12302

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The establishment of the International Center for Alcohol Policies (reformed as the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, or IARD) [ 6 ], for example describes itself as ‘a resource for all those interested in alcohol policy worldwide’, and was referred to in documents from Miller Brewing (then controlled by the tobacco company Philip Morris) as the ‘latest’ initiative that would assist ‘our sales and marketing group in an increasingly competitive marketplace’[ 6 ]. Some SAPROs such as Drinkaware [ 7 ] and Drinkwise [ 8 ] [ 9 ] focus on providing advice to the public, typically with the stated aim of helping individuals make informed decisions about their drinking; they claim to be independent, and attract government support. [ 7 10 ] Previous studies have suggested that SAPROs are part of a wider industry strategy to frame issues around alcohol harms, to promote ineffective interventions [ 11 ], and to influence the policy process, while undermining public health perspectives [ 5 11 – 14 ] [ 3 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diageo's 'Stop Out of Control Drinking' Campaign in Ireland: An Analysis

et al. 2016

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BackgroundIt has been argued that the alcohol industry uses corporate social responsibility activities to influence policy and undermine public health, and that every opportunity should be taken to scrutinise such activities. This study analyses a controversial Diageo-funded ‘responsible drinking’ campaign (“Stop out of Control Drinking”, or SOOCD) in Ireland. The study aims to identify how the campaign and its advisory board members frame and define (i) alcohol-related harms, and their causes, and (ii) possible solutions.MethodsDocumentary analysis of SOOCD campaign material. This includes newspaper articles (n = 9), media interviews (n = 11), Facebook posts (n = 92), and Tweets (n = 340) produced by the campaign and by board members. All material was coded inductively, and a thematic analysis undertaken, with codes aggregated into sub-themes.ResultsThe SOOCD campaign utilises vague or self-defined concepts of ‘out of control’ and ‘moderate’ drinking, tending to present alcohol problems as behavioural rather than health issues. These are also unquantified with respect to actual drinking levels. It emphasises alcohol-related antisocial behaviour among young people, particularly young women. In discussing solutions to alcohol-related problems, it focuses on public opinion rather than on scientific evidence, and on educational approaches and information provision, misrepresenting these as effective. “Moderate drinking” is presented as a behavioural issue (“negative drinking behaviours”), rather than as a health issue.ConclusionsThe ‘Stop Out of Control Drinking’ campaign frames alcohol problems and solutions in ways unfavourable to public health, and closely reflects other Diageo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity, as well as alcohol and tobacco industry strategies more generally. This framing, and in particular the framing of alcohol harms as a behavioural issue, with the implication that consumption should be guided only by self-defined limits, may not have been recognised by all board members. It suggests a need for awareness-raising efforts among the public, third sector and policymakers about alcohol industry strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diageo's 'Stop Out of Control Drinking' Campaign in Ireland: An Analysis

et al. 2016

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UNGASS 2016 in Comparative Perspective: Improving the Prospects for Success

Felbab-Brown

Trinkunas

2016

Journal of Drug Policy Analysis

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As the international community prepares for the 2016 United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016), the global counternarcotics regime faces profound challenges. An increasing number of countries now find the regime’s emphasis on punitive approaches to illicit drugs to be problematic and are asking for reform. However, critical players such as Russia and China remain committed to the preservation of the existing approaches. At the global level, much has changed since 1998 that undermines the previous global consensus on punitive counternarcotics strategies: illicit markets and networks have shifted; the harms and costs of drugs are unevenly distributed; and states no longer agree on what drug policies work. This moment of global disagreement, which is reflected at UNGASS 2016, provides an important opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and problematic side-effects of existing counternarcotics policies and to emphasize evidence-based strategies. This article argues that UNGASS 2016 should inject realism into the global discussion of drug policy objectives, instead of once again setting an unattainable goal of a drug-free world. The overall goal should be to strengthen states as they cope with the costs, harms, and threats posed by drug use and drug trade, and to do so in ways that increase, not erode, their legitimacy through policies that advance human rights and strengthen the bonds between the state and their citizens.

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Should public health bodies stop commissioning research from market research companies that serve the tobacco industry?

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

Diageo's 'Stop Out of Control Drinking' Campaign in Ireland: An Analysis

Diageo's 'Stop Out of Control Drinking' Campaign in Ireland: An Analysis

UNGASS 2016 in Comparative Perspective: Improving the Prospects for Success

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