15th May 1997

Alcohol-related death & disability ranks in world order with measles, tuberculosis and malaria

Alcohol causes three to four per cent of global death and disability putting it on a level with measles, tuberculosis and malaria and is five times more severe than illegal drugs in terms of impact on global health.

These facts will be placed today before a round table conference organised by the Institute of Alcohol Studies in London with representatives drawn from the new emerging alcohol markets of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.

"The world's largest alcohol companies are aggressively promoting their product to the poor, the young and the addicted and encouraging them to drink more", David Jernigan, the author of a two year study entitled "Thirsting for Markets: The Global Impact of Corporate Alcohol" will tell the conference. "What we have is a small club of companies that have divided up the world to minimise competition and maximise profits". Stagnant sales in the West have caused the industry to market aggressively in Asia and Africa where Jernigan shows how alcohol companies use advertising methods which could not be allowed in Britain.

In Malaysia "Lick, Shoot and Suck," is the theme of a Cuervo tequila promotion - a Grand Metropolitan brand - "lick salt from a woman's breast, take a shot of tequila and then suck a lime from her mouth".

Benedictine D.O.M. liqueur markets itself as a tonic for mothers. Guinness sponsors an incentive scheme rewarding hostesses in private clubs for promoting cognac consumption to their business clients.

In Zimbabwe Grand Met's affiliate sells "Robert E Lee" brandy with ads featuring the flag of the US confederacy - defenders of black slavery for an overwhelmingly black African market!

The top ten global brewers and top ten distillers have combined sales of £125 billion -more than the gross domestic products of all but the world's 21 richest countries.

Jernigan believes that "companies with these resources can afford to be part of the solution, not just the problem and should not be leaving the developing world thirsting for action."

Jernigan will make a series of recommendations for global alcohol companies; governments in the developing and developed world and international and non-organisations.

Note:

David Jernigan will be available for interview at lAS, 12 Caxton Street London SW1 H OQS. Telephone: 020 7222 4001 on Thursday, 29th May 1997 from 1 p.m.

The report "Thirsting for Markets: The Global Impact of Corporate Alcohol", published by the The Marin Institute, 24 Belvedere Street, San Rafael, California, CA 94901 USA price £25.00.