Response to the World Health Organization's working document for the development of a global action plan to reduce alcohol-related harm: Position Statement of the Hong Kong Alliance for Advocacy Against Alcohol

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi 2021-02, Vol.27 (1), p.4-6
• Main Authors: Ching, R C T, Mak, S P, Wong, M C S, Lam, M, Chan, W M, Wong, M F Y, Liang, R, Lam, T H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accountability; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Beverages; Marketing; Morbidity; Mortality; Profits; Public health; Social responsibility; Sustainable development; Transnationalism
• ISSN: 1024-2708; 2226-8707
• DOI: 10.12809/hkmj215109

Despite adoption of the political declarations emanating from high-level meetings of the United Nations General Assembly on noncommunicable diseases in 2011; inclusion of alcohol for prevention and treatment of substance abuse in target 3.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030; introduction of the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020 (subsequently extended to 2030 to align with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030) and updated evidence on a prioritised set of cost-effective or ‘best-buy' policy measures known as the SAFER initiative, implementation of the Global Strategy worldwide has been uneven, and resources and capacities falling behind the magnitude of the problems. On this basis, the WHO Executive Board in 2020 requested the WHO Director-General, inter alia, “to develop an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol(https://cms.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/alcohol-drugs-and-addictive-behaviours/alcohol/global-alcohol-strategy) as a public health priority, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, for consideration by the 75th World Health Assembly in 2022” The WHO Secretariat conducted a web-based consultation (https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/global-action-plan-to-reduce-the-harmful-use-of-alcohol) from 16 November to 13 December 2020 on a working document for development of the action plan open to Member States, United Nations organisations and other international organisations, and non-State actors. [...]it confuses the public and hinders education efforts. To help expose and recognise pervasive commercial interference in public policy making and anti-alcohol efforts including ‘corporate social responsibility' initiatives at transnational, national and local levels in order that public and non-profit organisations may steer clear of commercial interests of economic operators, the HKAAAA requests the WHO to take the lead in a global stock taking exercise that will also serve as baseline for future regulatory work. 11.