Getting to Zero Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities A Comprehensive Approach to a Persistent Problem (2018) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Appendix C: The Role of the Alcohol Industry in Policy Interventions for Alcohol-Impaired Driving - Thomas F. Babor, Katherine Robaina, and Jonathan Noel
Appendix C: The Role of the Alcohol Industry in Policy Interventions for Alcohol-Impaired Driving - Thomas F. Babor, Katherine Robaina, and Jonathan Noel
Pages 477-522
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 477... ...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, the alcoholic beverage industry has become increasingly active in the support, analysis, and promotion of drinking and driving countermeasures and policies, especially in relation to road traffic safety.
|
From page 478... ...
Evidence suggests that the relationship between the alcohol industry and the energy drink industry is mutually beneficial, despite the significant risks associated with alcohol mixed with energy drinks, such as increased alcohol consumption and related harms.
|
From page 479... ...
Each strategy includes a variety of tactics, and many of these tactics are carried out under the umbrella of corporate social responsibility. In most cases, it is difficult to establish a direct link to alcohol policies that either reduce or increase alcohol-impaired driving and alcoholrelated traffic injuries, but there is considerable circumstantial evidence that some of these activities are detrimental to public health and traffic safety, and that many others serve to dilute the public health response.
|
From page 480... ...
The findings reinforce recent concerns expressed by NGOs, the scientific community, and international health agencies in relation to the alcohol industry's road traffic safety initiatives. Recommendations We close with a set of recommendations regarding the role of the alcohol industry in the development of policy aimed at reducing alcoholimpaired driving and its negative consequences.
|
From page 481... ...
. The involvement of the alcohol industry in the promotion of these initiatives has been questioned by some in the public health community, as well as others involved in road traffic safety.
|
From page 482... ...
The introduction provides an overview of the alcoholic beverage industry and explains the rationale for addressing alcohol consumption, promotion, and policy in relation to road traffic safety. The second section describes alcohol industry marketing practices and commercial strategies, including CSR activities designed to improve brand image.
|
From page 483... ...
Another group, although not under the direct control of alcohol producers and trade associations, consists of advertising, marketing, research, and other organizations that are substantially dependent on alcohol industry funding for their activities.
|
From page 484... ...
This paper primarily focuses on large national and transnational alcohol producers because they are more involved in lobbying, policy initiatives, marketing, and product development that may affect alcohol consumption and alcohol control policy related to road traffic safety. The results of this analysis may not apply to other segments of the industry, as noted in the Conclusion.
|
From page 485... ...
. From the perspective of road traffic safety, at least three strategies are noteworthy: (1)
|
From page 486... ...
products are aimed at price-conscious younger consumers, specifically students, as are alcoholic energy drinks. Sweet RTD alcohol products appeal to women and young people, particularly underage drinkers, who are not always aware of the beverage's alcohol content (CHOICE, 2008; Copeland et al., 2007; Euromonitor International, 2017)
|
From page 487... ...
Despite the ban on premixed alcoholic energy drinks, official relationships between some alcohol producers and some segments of the energy drink industry have continued. For example, in 2007, AB InBev signed a distribution deal with Monster Energy, the second most popular energy drink in the United States, to manage and coordinate the distribution of Monster Energy products to on-premises alcohol retailers, such as bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.4 The distribution deal still appears to be active following AB's merger with SABMiller.5 In 2017, AB InBev agreed to purchase the energy drink maker Hiball for an undisclosed amount (Snider, 2017)
|
From page 488... ...
professional sports leagues, including auto racing, are sponsored by at least one alcohol brand and sporting events attract substantial audiences, particularly young adults and middle-aged men, who are the heaviest consumers of alcoholic beverages. By sponsoring leagues, events, and/or teams, the alcohol industry is able to incorporate the brand
|
From page 489... ...
According to a report on the extent of alcohol advertising during the 2014 Formula One (F1) Monaco Grand Prix, alcohol sponsorship of F1 provides a platform for an extremely high exposure of alcohol advertising to audiences (Eurocare, 2015)
|
From page 490... ...
alcohol producers have pledged not to promote alcohol-impaired driving and to avoid having driving associated with alcoholic beverages. Associating alcoholic beverages with race car driving is likely in violation of these pledges as well as the industry's own selfregulatory advertising codes because the brand is being associated with a sport that displays vehicles driving in a manner that would be deemed unsafe and illegal if it occurred on a public road.
|
From page 491... ...
were sponsored by alcohol brands (Coors Light [IndyCar and NASCAR] and Tequila Patrón [IMSA]
|
From page 492... ...
, research demonstrates that exposure to alcohol marketing is associated with earlier initiation of drinking among young people, increased alcohol consumption among current young drinkers, and increased alcohol-related problems (Anderson et al., 2009; Austin et al., 2006; Jernigan et al., 2017; Smith and Foxcroft, 2009)
|
From page 493... ...
Red Bull GmbH funded a survey of 6,002 Dutch university students that concluded that alcohol mixed with energy drink consumption was associated with significantly decreased alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and instances of driving while impaired (de Haan et al., 2012)
|
From page 494... ...
CORPORATE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES In addition to commercial activities designed to promote alcoholic beverages, some segments of the alcohol industry may act indirectly to create a favorable regulatory environment. These corporate political activities are conducted in many areas of business (Getz, 1997; Hillman and Hitt, 1999; Savell et al., 2014, 2016; Schuler, 1996; Schuler et al., 2002)
|
From page 495... ...
• artnerships/collaboration (e.g., P working industry competitors, civil society groups, and academia to provide technical support and advice) Constituency building • orming alliances with trade F associations and other industry sectors • orming alliances with or mobilizing F civil society organizations, consumers, employees, and/or the public • reation of social aspects/public C relations organizations • orporate-image advertisinga C • dvocacy advertisingb (press releases, A publicity campaigns)
|
From page 496... ...
, even though tax increases can significantly reduce harmful alcohol consumption and the prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving (Wagenaar et al., 2010; Xu and Chaloupka, 2011)
|
From page 497... ...
, which has been sponsored by numerous alcohol producers (ABI, 2013) , "continued in aggressive opposition to a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to lower the drunk-driving arrest threshold to a 0.05% BAC level" (ABI, 2015)
|
From page 498... ...
in relation to many of the same transnational alcohol producers listed in Table C-2. Activities to Shape the Evidence Base The support of research to generate scientific evidence and to demonstrate corporate social responsibility is another strategy used by the industry.
|
From page 499... ...
funders, stakeholders, and partners."10 TIRF conducts studies of drinking and driving interventions, education measures, and issues related to road traffic safety, such as ignition interlock devices and apprehension of high-risk offenders. TIRF makes it a priority to share its research findings with the media, advocacy organizations, and members of the general public and provides testimony to governments in many states to inform decisions about road safety legislation.
|
From page 500... ...
The largest alcohol industry trade associations in the United States are the Beer Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and the Wine Institute. Alcohol producers have also supported other trade associations, and the largest alcohol producers (e.g., AB InBev)
|
From page 501... ...
concluded were ineffective at changing alcohol consumption. Conflicts of interest may develop when a highly profitable business enters the public health arena.
|
From page 502... ...
In most cases, it is difficult to establish a direct link to alcohol policies that either reduce or increase alcohol-impaired driving and alcohol-related traffic injuries, but there is considerable circumstantial evidence that some of these activities are detrimental to public health and traffic safety and that many others serve to dilute the public health response. Furthermore, efforts to increase overall alcohol consumption will inevitably lead to negative alcohol-related consequences including increased alcohol-impaired driving.
|
From page 503... ...
As many of these initiatives concern drinking and driving, they provide a way to evaluate the extent to which corporate social responsibility is consistent with evidence-based public health practices concerning road traffic safety. These initiatives also provide a way to evaluate the extent to which policy substitution is evident in the alcohol industry's attempts at corporate social responsibility over an extended period of time.
|
From page 504... ...
as well as information about the program's year of initiation, the sponsoring company or organization, the WHO Global Strategy area it was intended to address (e.g., alcoholimpaired driving) , and whether it was the subject of an evaluation.
|
From page 505... ...
Only 13.4 percent had moderate population reach, and none of the actions were found to have large or national reach. Common industry actions were the distribution of flyers or brochures about designated drivers or responsible drinking, which often doubled as marketing for the alcohol brands.
|
From page 506... ...
? alcohol marketing Public information/ 14.4 ?
|
From page 507... ...
addressed to the director general of WHO by an international group of 17 alcohol policy experts. The statement claimed that the global alcohol producers had misinterpreted their roles with respect to the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy, and therefore should not be conducting public health activities on behalf of WHO other than to allow effective, evidence-based alcohol control measures to be adopted by WHO member states.
|
From page 508... ...
. Therefore, responsible drinking campaigns can potentially be considered another form of alcohol marketing and may even encourage alcohol consumption.
|
From page 509... ...
First, some of the industry's promotional activities, combined with product innovations, may increase the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption, as well as the likelihood of alcohol-impaired driving. Second, the alcohol industry's corporate political activities may interfere with effective alcohol policies and improve the public image of the producers as good corporate citizens, rather than reduce the incidence of alcohol-impaired driving.
|
From page 510... ...
The findings of this paper suggest that the economic interests of the large transnational producers, combined with their extensive campaign contributions to political parties and politicians, create the conditions for a strong industry influence in the policy-making process around road traffic safety. Some of this influence may be exercised through a set of key agenda items that promote the industry's interests, such as low alcohol taxes, minimum regulation of alcohol availability, and industry selfregulation of alcohol marketing, all of which contribute to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.
|
From page 511... ...
Recommendations We close with a set of recommendations regarding the role of the alcohol industry in the development of policy aimed at reducing alcoholimpaired driving and its negative consequences. We also consider the role of federal and state agencies as well as the road traffic safety community.
|
From page 512... ...
Transnational corporations should adhere to minimal ethical standards for responsible product design and marketing practices regardless of the country where their products are sold. Global alcohol producers, their trade associations, and community outreach and public relations organizations have an ethical responsibility to do the following: • Reduce the alcohol content of existing products when warranted to reduce the risk of injury while intoxicated and the toxic effects of chronic drinking.
|
From page 513... ...
. The following actions are warranted by the road traffic safety community: • Do not accept direct funding from industry sources for prevention, research, education, and information dissemination activities.
|
From page 514... ...
2015. The influence of industry actions on the avail ability of alcoholic beverages in the African region.
|
From page 515... ...
2012. Effects of consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks versus consuming alcohol only on overall alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences.
|
From page 516... ...
open.ac.uk/22913/1/AERC_FinalReport_0060.pdf (accessed November 20, 2017)
|
From page 517... ...
2017. Alcohol marketing and youth alcohol consumption: A systematic review of longitudinal studies published since 2008.
|
From page 518... ...
http://tirf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/RSM-TIRF-USA Alternatives-to-Alcohol-Impaired-Driving2016-8.pdf (accessed November 20, 2017)
|
From page 519... ...
2017. The marketing potential of corporate social responsibility activities: The case of the alcohol industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.
|
From page 520... ...
2017. American Beverage Institute compares Utah's .05 DUI law to "Driving While Older." http://kutv.com/news/local/american-beverage-institute-compares-utahs 05-dui-law-to-driving-while-older (accessed November 20, 2017)
|
From page 521... ...
"The hypocrisy from both sides is staggering." https://www.vox.com/first person/2017/6/29/15886936/political-lobbying-lobbyist-big-money-politics (accessed November 20, 2017)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.