RNZ has uncovered new information indicating senior Ministry of Health officials responsible for public health strategy are “expected” (presumably by the current Government) to work with the alcohol industry on public health plans and will continue to do so. “This is despite the industry’s conflict of interest and track record of opposing effective health policies”, says Steve Randerson of Health Coalition Aotearoa”.
This follows earlier revelations of regular contact between senior officials and alcohol industry representatives, who raised concerns about low risk drinking guidelines, and who were asked for input to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder action plan and a framework to guide the investment of the alcohol levy (a key public fund for activities to address the harm caused by alcohol). “To our knowledge, there was no opportunity for input on this framework for the public or longstanding public interest groups, such as Alcohol Healthwatch”, says Randerson.
New rules of engagement coming for government officials and industry lobbyists
The information shows the Ministry is considering new rules to guide engagement for health officials dealing with harmful product industries (like alcohol). However, a recent poll shows 71% of New Zealanders believe the alcohol industry should not be engaged in developing alcohol policy at all.
Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for any new “rules of engagement” to indicate that:
- government officials should exclude the alcohol industry from the development and decision stages of making policy to reduce alcohol harm. Industry members would still be able to make submissions to public processes, like writing submissions.
- the government should ensure higher standards of transparency when engaging with the industry.
These recommendations are from our Level the Playing Field campaign (advocating for tighter regulation of lobbying).
Huge conflict of interest to have industry involved in reducing alcohol harm
The industry has inherent conflicts of interests that must exclude them from involvement in policy intended to reduce alcohol harm, in the same way as tobacco lobbyist are excluded from tobacco policy setting. Effective harm reduction policies impact the substantial profits that flow from heavy drinking, since almost half of the alcohol sold in Aotearoa is consumed in heavy drinking sessions.
“It is particularly shocking the alcohol industry is being consulted on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) plan, given the industry’s long history of delaying tactics, which kept effective pregnancy warning labels off products for over 20 years. Even now, one-third of alcohol products don’t have the warning label”, says Randerson.
It’s time to protect government officials from alcohol industry interference
Aotearoa bars tobacco lobbyists from shaping public health policy. Yet alcohol lobbyists — despite the harm their products cause — continue to enjoy privileged access to decision-makers.
Alcohol is our most harmful drug. It contributes cancer, causes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and costs the country an estimated $9.1 billion a year. Still, the alcohol industry is invited to help shape how we spend the $16 million Alcohol Levy and influence key harm-reduction policies.
New Zealand is a signatory to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This agreement requires governments to protect policy development from tobacco industry interference, recognising the “irreconcilable conflict” between industry profits and public health. The same logic applies to alcohol — yet no such protections exist.
Alcohol lobbyists often have the loudest voice at the table. As one senior official put it: “In my experience… these alcohol interests have zero interest in reducing harm (or sales of booze) and a huge purse to fund their lawyers.”
We urgently need similar safeguards to keep alcohol industry influence in check. The WHO’s Global Alcohol Action Plan is clear: “The development of public policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol should be protected… from commercial and other vested interests.”
Alcohol industry tactics
The alcohol industry paints itself as a legitimate partner in alcohol harm reduction while employing certain influencing tactics. It tends to move attention away from population focused solutions that work (like cost effective regulations on marketing, prices and supply) to solutions that focus on the individual drinker, which are often expensive and only sometimes effective.
Even low and moderate levels of drinking increase the risk of cancer and other diseases, with cancer accounting for 42% of alcohol related deaths in New Zealand. However, the alcohol industry focuses on messages of ‘responsible’ drinking, which plays down the true scope of alcohol harm by focusing on a minority of irresponsible or heavy drinkers. Inevitably some politicians re-circulate these ideas and it gets harder to introduce policies that actually reduce harm.
The upshot
The evidence in this OIA gives an explicit example of how officials are exposed to communications, meetings and relationships with a powerful industry around policy that is supposed to be about protecting public health and wellbeing.
We call on the Government to act, including by prioritising the voices of those working to reduce alcohol harm.
New Zealanders deserve alcohol policy shaped by public health, not private profit.
