{"id":4594,"date":"2025-06-25T14:19:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T04:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/big-industry-bigger-liesthe-truth-about-alcohol-2\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T17:45:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T06:45:01","slug":"big-industry-bigger-liesthe-truth-about-alcohol-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/big-industry-bigger-liesthe-truth-about-alcohol-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Alcohol: Big Industry, Bigger Lies"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4594\" class=\"elementor elementor-4594\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d61649c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6d61649c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7871f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7871f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\u00a0<\/div><div>\u00a0The World Health Organisation has made it crystal clear: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. None. Zero. Not a single drop provides health benefits that outweigh the risks. Yet somehow, millions still believe the myth that a glass of wine is good for the heart or that moderate drinking has protective effects. This widespread belief is a result of decades of misinformation that obscures the real truth about alcohol \u2013 a truth backed by science, not spin. How did we get here?<\/div><p><em>\u201cEvery drop counts but not in the way you think.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>The answer lies in one of the most sophisticated misinformation campaigns in modern history, orchestrated by an industry that makes tobacco companies look like amateurs.<\/p><p><strong>The Brutal Reality: Alcohol by the Numbers<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201c2.6 million reasons to rethink that drink.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignright size-full wp-image-4585\" style=\"margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 30px; float: right;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout.jpg\" alt=\"truthabout\" width=\"450\" height=\"253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout.jpg 1617w, https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/truthabout-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>Let\u2019s start with the facts that Big Alcohol desperately wants you to ignore. In 2019 alone, alcohol was responsible for 2.6 million deaths worldwide. That\u2019s roughly 7,100 people dying every single day from alcohol-related causes. Men bore the brunt of this carnage, accounting for 2 million of these deaths.<\/p><p>But death is just the tip of the iceberg. Alcohol contributes to over 200 different health conditions, from liver disease and heart problems to mental health disorders and cancer. The World Health Organisation has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen \u2013 putting it in the same category as asbestos and tobacco. It\u2019s directly linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and bowel cancers.<\/p><p>The numbers are staggering:<\/p><ul><li>400 million people globally suffer from alcohol use disorders<\/li><li>Alcohol is the leading risk factor for death and disability in people aged 15 to 49<\/li><li>Even so-called \u201clight\u201d drinking accounts for half of all alcohol-related cancers in Europe<\/li><li>90% of teenagers in Australia regularly see alcohol advertisements online<\/li><\/ul><p><em>\u201cYoung people aren\u2019t customers, they\u2019re targets.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>Perhaps most disturbing is how alcohol disproportionately affects young people. Those aged 15-39 make up nearly 60% of harmful drinkers globally, with males comprising three-quarters of this group. The industry doesn\u2019t see young people as future adults who might choose to drink responsibly \u2013 they see them as \u201cheavy-using loyalists of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>The \u00a31.17 Trillion Lie Machine<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cProfits over people\u2026 it\u2019s not just business, it\u2019s personal.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>The global alcohol industry generates \u00a31.17 trillion annually, surpassing the GDP of 179 countries. Companies like AB InBev, Diageo, Heineken, and Pernod Ricard aren\u2019t just making money \u2013 they\u2019re making obscene profits. AB InBev alone pocketed \u00a36 billion in 2022, while Diageo raked in \u00a34.4 billion.<\/p><p>But here\u2019s the dirty secret they don\u2019t want you to know: their entire business model depends on harmful drinking. In England, 68% of alcohol industry revenue comes from people drinking above recommended guidelines, with 23% coming from those drinking at extremely harmful levels. If everyone followed safe drinking guidelines, the industry would lose 38% of its revenue overnight.<\/p><p>This explains everything. The industry can\u2019t afford for people to drink responsibly \u2013 they need people to drink dangerously.<\/p><p>Research shows that just 10% of adults account for more than half of all alcohol consumed in the US. The industry\u2019s profits literally depend on addiction, with underage drinking alone contributing \u00a310 billion annually to US alcohol companies.<\/p><p><em>\u201cSelf-regulation is like asking foxes to guard the henhouse.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong>The Masterclass in Manipulation<\/strong><\/p><p>The alcohol industry has perfected the art of deception, using tactics that would make political spin doctors blush. Their strategy is multi-pronged and devastatingly effective:<\/p><p><strong>1. The Lobbying Blitz<\/strong><\/p><p>They spend billions annually lobbying governments, forming cosy relationships with policymakers and intervening in health policy processes. The Scotch Whisky Association fought Scotland\u2019s minimum unit pricing policy for six years, despite evidence that it would save lives. When the policy finally passed, alcohol-related deaths dropped \u2013 proving the industry was willing to let people die to protect profits.<\/p><p><strong>2. The Self-Regulation Scam<\/strong><\/p><p>Industry groups like the Portman Group in the UK promote \u201cvoluntary\u201d marketing codes that are about as effective as chocolate teapots. Analysis shows these codes consistently fail:<\/p><ul><li>Marketing regularly targets children and vulnerable groups<\/li><li>A third of alcohol products in the UK still don\u2019t display updated drinking guidelines six years after their release<\/li><li>90% of teenagers see alcohol ads online despite supposed \u201cprotections\u201d<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>3. The Research Racket<\/strong><\/p><p>The industry funds its own research to muddy the waters. They target early-career researchers with funding, shaping entire academic careers towards pro-industry agendas. A major 2018 cardiovascular health study was cancelled when evidence of pro-industry bias came to light.<\/p><p>Industry-funded groups like Drinkaware in the UK present themselves as independent health organisations while pushing corporate narratives. They use \u201cstrategic ambiguity\u201d to downplay cancer risks and amplify any hint of potential benefits.<\/p><p><strong>4. The Digital Predator<\/strong><\/p><p>Social media has become the industry\u2019s secret weapon. They can now target vulnerable groups with surgical precision, including young people seeking mental health support. Digital marketing exposes children to alcohol advertising at unprecedented levels, creating the next generation of customers before they\u2019re legally allowed to drink.<\/p><p><em>\u201cWhen the industry says \u2018responsible drinking,\u2019 they mean \u2018profitable drinking.&#8217;\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong>Sabotaging the Solution: The UN Scandal<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201c60 proposals, one agenda \u2013 profit over people.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>The alcohol industry\u2019s most brazen attempt at manipulation came during consultations for the WHO Global Action Plan 2022-2030. This plan, designed to reduce alcohol-related deaths and suffering worldwide, represented hope for millions of families affected by alcohol.<\/p><p>Big Alcohol wasn\u2019t having it.<\/p><p>Industry groups submitted 60 proposals \u2013 a staggering 24% of all feedback. Their goal wasn\u2019t to improve public health; it was to legitimise themselves as stakeholders in health policy and weaken government regulation.<\/p><p>The tactics were shameless:<\/p><ul><li>90% of industry submissions demanded a greater role for alcohol companies in tackling harm (like asking arsonists to join the fire brigade)<\/li><li>Over half tried to discredit WHO\u2019s evidence-based \u201cSAFER\u201d initiative<\/li><li>Only 36% referenced any evidence at all, and most of that was misrepresented or irrelevant<\/li><\/ul><p>The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), backed by giants like Diageo and Heineken, used the UN platform to spread outright lies:<\/p><p><strong>The Claim<\/strong>: Declining alcohol deaths mean no urgent action is needed.\u00a0<strong>The Reality<\/strong>: While age-adjusted deaths decreased by 20.2%, absolute deaths only fell by 2.5%. In poorer regions, alcohol harm is actually increasing.<\/p><p><strong>The Claim<\/strong>: Industry partnerships reduce harm.\u00a0<strong>The Reality<\/strong>: Up to 60% of alcohol sales rely on heavy drinking occasions, and WHO identifies industry interference as a major barrier to policy implementation.<\/p><p><strong>The Claim<\/strong>: Youth drinking is declining thanks to industry efforts.\u00a0<strong>The Reality<\/strong>: Youth alcohol use rose 22% in South-East Asia and 26% in the Western Pacific. Over half of 15-year-olds in Europe have consumed alcohol.<\/p><p><em>\u201cThey\u2019re not stakeholders \u2013 they\u2019re the problem.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong>The Myth of Moderate Benefits<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cThe only good news about alcohol is fake news.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>Perhaps the industry\u2019s greatest achievement has been convincing people that moderate drinking offers health benefits. This myth is so pervasive that even some doctors still believe it.<\/p><p>The WHO has comprehensively debunked this nonsense. Studies claiming cardiovascular or metabolic benefits from alcohol suffer from flawed methodologies and fail to account for cancer risks. Any theoretical benefits are vastly outweighed by the certainty of harm.<\/p><p>The science is unambiguous: alcohol is a toxin that damages every organ system in the body. The idea that consuming a carcinogen could somehow improve health is as absurd as suggesting that a little bit of asbestos is good for your lungs.<\/p><p>For young people especially, there is no amount of alcohol that doesn\u2019t increase health risks. The theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) for people aged 15-39 ranges from zero to 0.6 drinks per day \u2013 essentially zero for practical purposes.<\/p><p><strong>The SAFER Solution: A Roadmap to Recovery<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cEvidence-based action saves lives \u2013 industry interference kills them.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>Despite Big Alcohol\u2019s best efforts, the WHO Global Action Plan 2022-2030 provides a clear roadmap for reducing alcohol-related harm. The SAFER initiative outlines five key strategies:<\/p><p><strong>S<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Strengthen<\/strong>\u00a0advance and facilitate implementation of health services for treating alcohol use disorders<\/p><p><strong>A<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Advance<\/strong>\u00a0and facilitate enforcement of measures against drink-driving<\/p><p><strong>F<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Facilitate<\/strong>\u00a0access to screening, brief interventions, and treatment\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>E<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Enforce<\/strong>\u00a0bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising and marketing\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>R<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<strong>Raise<\/strong>\u00a0alcohol prices through taxation and pricing policies<\/p><p>These aren\u2019t theoretical policies \u2013 they\u2019re proven lifesavers. Countries that have implemented SAFER strategies have seen dramatic reductions in alcohol-related deaths, injuries, and social problems.<\/p><p>The evidence is overwhelming:<\/p><ul><li>Higher alcohol taxes reduce consumption and generate revenue for healthcare<\/li><li>Marketing bans protect young people from industry targeting<\/li><li>Minimum unit pricing prevents the sale of dangerously cheap alcohol<\/li><li>Restricting availability reduces impulse purchases and binge drinking<\/li><\/ul><p><em>\u201cPolicy works \u2013 when the industry isn\u2019t writing it.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong>Excluding the Fox from the Henhouse<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cPublic health policy without industry interference \u2013 revolutionary concept.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>The alcohol industry has forfeited any right to be involved in public health policy. Their interests are fundamentally opposed to human wellbeing. They profit from addiction, disease, and death \u2013 there\u2019s no middle ground.<\/p><p>Countries serious about protecting their citizens must:<\/p><ol start=\"1\" type=\"1\"><li><strong>Implement WHO SAFER strategies<\/strong>\u00a0without industry consultation<\/li><li><strong>Ban alcohol industry funding<\/strong>\u00a0of research and health organisations<\/li><li><strong>Exclude industry representatives<\/strong>\u00a0from health policy discussions<\/li><li><strong>Mandate clear health warnings<\/strong>\u00a0on all alcohol products<\/li><li><strong>Restrict marketing<\/strong>\u00a0across all platforms, especially digital media<\/li><li><strong>Increase taxation<\/strong>\u00a0to reflect the true cost of alcohol harm<\/li><li><strong>Educate the public<\/strong>\u00a0about alcohol\u2019s cancer risks<\/li><\/ol><p>The industry will resist every step, claiming economic disaster and job losses. This is fear-mongering nonsense. Research shows that a 10% increase in UK alcohol taxes could raise \u00a3850 million in national income, create 17,000 jobs, and improve workplace productivity.<\/p><p><em>\u201cHealthy populations are productive populations.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong>A Future Without Industry Lies<\/strong><\/p><p><em>\u201cTruth is the best disinfectant.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>Picture a world where young people grow up knowing the truth about alcohol \u2013 that it\u2019s a toxic, addictive, cancer-causing drug with no health benefits. Envision public policies driven by evidence instead of industry profits. Healthcare systems could finally be freed from the burden of treating preventable alcohol-related diseases.<\/p><p>This isn\u2019t utopian fantasy. It\u2019s achievable. We\u2019ve done it before with tobacco, and we can do it again with alcohol. The industry will fight dirty, but they\u2019re fighting a losing battle against truth and evidence.<\/p><p>The WHO has shown us the way with their Global Action Plan. Countries around the world are implementing SAFER strategies despite industry opposition. The momentum is building, and Big Alcohol knows it.<\/p><p>Every life lost to alcohol is one we should have saved. Every cancer case caused by drinking didn\u2019t have to happen. And every young person deserves the truth about alcohol\u2014not a sales pitch.<\/p><p>It\u2019s time to choose people over profits.<\/p><p>The choice is clear: we can continue letting a predatory industry shape public health policy, or we can put people before profits.<\/p><p>Alcohol causes nothing but harm. The industry knows it, WHO knows it, and now you know it too. The only question remaining is what you\u2019re going to do about it.<\/p><p>Voices matter. Choices shape lives. And every life is worth fighting for.<\/p><p><strong>(Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wrdnews.org\/the-truth-about-alcohol-big-industry-bigger-lies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WRD News<\/a>)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><ol start=\"1\" type=\"1\"><li>Big alcohols manipulation a)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/movendi.ngo\/blog\/2025\/05\/15\/big-alcohols-deception-at-the-un-how-the-iard-hijacked-a-global-health-forum-to-spread-lies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Big Alcohol\u2019s Deception at the UN: How the IARD Hijacked a Global Health Forum to Spread Lies \u2013 Movendi Internationa<\/em><\/a>l\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>WHO\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/alcohol\"><em>Alcohol<\/em><\/a>\u00a0Fact sheet<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789240090101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030<\/em><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health<\/em><\/a><\/li><\/ol><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(22)00847-9\/fulltext#seccestitle140\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020 \u2013 The Lancet<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0The World Health Organisation has made it crystal clear: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. None. Zero. Not a single drop provides health benefits that outweigh the risks. Yet somehow, millions still believe the myth that a glass of wine is good for the heart or that moderate drinking has protective effects. This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dalgorno-monitoring-alcohol"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au\/wp_site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}