Partnership for Tackling Alcohol Misuse in Ireland

1. An Industry Perspective on Partnership Rosemary Garth ABFI Director

2. Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland • Established October 2007 • Umbrella organisation for alcoholic drinks suppliers • Sector in Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) • Inclusive – sectoral representation • Speak with one voice • Proactive & positive • First of its kind Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

3. Alcohol Misuse • While the majority of people consume alcohol in a responsible manner • Alcohol Misuse is a major social problem in Ireland: - Binge drinking - Underage drinking • Drink Driving Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

4. Context of alcohol misusein Ireland • Major societal changes: • CelticTiger • Demographic Shift • Civic vs. Conformist Society • Lifestyle Pressures – cash rich, time poor generation • Led to significant increases in consumption of alcohol. • BUT Bigger change: shift in patterns of consumption. • Consumption is falling - declined by 7.5% since 2001. Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

5. Alcohol Consumption Per Capita Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

6. Alcohol Misuse Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

7. Role of drinks industry in tackling Alcohol Misuse • It is the right thing to do. • As stakeholders in society we fully recognise the imperative to reduce the misuse of alcohol and its consequent harms and we see our industry as a front line partner in doing so. • Any level of alcohol related harm poses challenges to the future sustainability of our industry and the regulatory environment in which we operate. • Long-term moderate consumers of alcohol are preferable to short term mis-users of alcohol for all stakeholders. Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

8. Approaches in tackling Alcohol Misuse • Population based/Nordic Model: • Increased Taxes • Restricting Availability • Restricting Advertising • Limitations of this approach: • Focuses on total consumption rather than patterns of consumption • Discriminates against moderate consumers • Weak evidence base • E.g. recent research on effect of reducing excise duty – no increase in consumption Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

9. Tackling Alcohol Misuse Alone? • Stand alone approaches • Impinge on the broad population • Lack flexibility to respond to target group and individuals who misuse alcohol Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

10. Tackling Through Partnership • ABFI can bring common concerns to the forefront • Work with the Government and other Stakeholders to deliver practical and relevant policies • Multi-stakeholder results in multi-action response • Industry must be allowed to play a full role to shift attitudes to alcohol Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

11. Benefits of Partnership • Partnership gives everyone a voice • Focus on what can be achieved rather than what cannot • Measures can target particular problematic areas • Outcomes can be implemented more effectively Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

12. Social Partnership in Ireland • Through social partnership, Ireland is one of the few countries to have the proper framework upon which to achieve such a partnership. • Stakeholders: • government departments • industry and employers • trade unions • social inclusion groups • ngos Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

13. Social Partnership Special Initiative on Alcohol Misuse • Recognition of needs for a multi stakeholder approach • Recommendations included; • Community Mobilisation • Targetted Interventions • Development of guidelines for a workplace alcohol misuse policy • New code of practice for off trade sector • Enhanced Responsible Serving and Trading of Alcohol Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

14. Social Partnership special Initiative • Support for better road safety: Random Breath Testing • Labelling to increase consumer education and awareness • €20m fund responsible drinking campaign drinkaware.ie executed by MEAS Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

15. Other Initiatives • Alcohol Advertising Content: Success of CCCI • Alcohol Advertising Placement: Series of Codes agreed with Department of Health - AMCMB • Alcohol & Drugs Working Group • Alcohol Advisory Group Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie

16. Conclusion • Partnership works! • Important that all stakeholders have a voice. • Industry is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to reducing alcohol misuse. • Alcohol misuse is a problem but together it can be addressed. Confederation House | 84/86 Lower Baggot Street | Dublin 2 | Ireland | www.ibec.ie