Campaigners have urged the new Government to protect public health policy from ‘interference’ from the alcohol industry.
A report by think-tank Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) calls on ministers to acknowledge the ‘essential conflict of interest’ between the industry's economic objectives and public health goals, in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
Interactions with the alcohol industry should be restricted to information exchange, the report argues.
It adds that good governance processes must be established to promote transparency, and partnerships with alcohol industry bodies should be rejected.
Report co-author Jeff Collin said: ‘Nobody seriously argues that the tobacco industry should be involved in developing policies to reduce smoking, and it’s no more credible to suggest that alcohol producers would contribute positively to policies to reduce the health and social impacts of their products.’
Mr Collin, who is a professor of global health policy at the University of Edinburgh, added: ‘Good health governance requires measures to minimise industry interference in policymaking; there shouldn’t be a place at the table for the alcohol industry.’
