Thai Youth protest at International Center for Alcohol Policy attempt to interfere in Thai Policy

Using the pretext of the WHO resolution on strategies to reduce alcohol related harm the International Center for Alcohol Policy (ICAP) approached the Thai Prime Minister and Health Minister to see how ICAP could help the Thai Government to reduce alcohol related harm in Thailand. Concerned over such interference in Thai alcohol policy, a protest demonstration was organised by the Stop Drink Network. The Stop Drink Network is a large youth network having contacts with 350 organisations nationwide.

ICAP is funded by many of the major global alcohol companies. The total budget for ICAP in 2007 was $2.65 million.

The 2007 financial accounts submitted to the United States Inland Revenue show that ICAP allocated $237,000 (Two hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand Dollars) for activities in Asia. Their report states that the allocated sum is “to position ICAP and its activities in the Asia-Pacific Region so that ICAP is seen as a regional as well as a global resource”.

An allocation of $218,644 (Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Forty Four US Dollars) was also made for a regional workshop on self-regulation “to strengthen regional commitments and systems of self regulation by exchanging best practices in self-regulation with a wide range of stakeholders from the governmental, public health and beverage alcohol industry sectors.”

Alcohol consumption rate among Thai population has been rapidly increasing. Consumption of alcohol is particularly common among males. However between 1996 and 2003 consumption among girls aged from 15-19 years rose almost six times. Advocacy by Thai Health helped persuade the Thai cabinet to pass a resolution in July 2003 to ban advertisements of all beverages with more than 0.5% alcohol on radio and TV broadcast between 5am and 10pm.

Thai Health has funded activities carried out by alcohol control organizations in Thailand. For instance, it has paid for major advertising campaigns to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents at Thai New Year; to encourage abstinence from alcohol during Buddhist Lent; to raise awareness about the links between alcohol and domestic violence; and to reduce the number of new drinkers. It has provided funding to replace sponsorship by the alcohol industry.

Diageo and ICAP
Diageo and ICAP at a London press conference in November 2009 launched their book “Working together to Reduce Alcohol Related Harm”, aimed at policy makers and particularly those that will decide WHO strategy. Paul Walsh, Chief Executive of Diageo, is reported as saying, “Granted, we have views about the efficacy of increasing prices or banning marketing... but we also offer a slate of areas where alcohol producers could be involved”. Walsh also spoke of ‘extremists’ among public health campaigners lobbying against drinks industry involvement in the strategy debate.

Derek Rutherford, Chair of GAPA comments: “There is a role for industry to market its product responsibly; to comply with national rules and regulations; to provide training for those who sell and serve alcohol and to prevent their clientele from over indulgence or inappropriate drinking patterns such as drinking and driving. However, NGOs do adhere to the 2001 WHO European Ministerial Conference Declaration “Public health policies concerning alcohol need to be formulated by public health interests without interference from commercial interests”.

See also the Globe Issue 3 2002 “The Beverage Alcohol Industry’s Social Aspect Organizations – a public health warning”.
Website: http:// www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/theglobe/ globe200203/gl200203_p6.html