ICAP Reviews, issued periodically since 2005, are independently authored and peer reviewed electronic publications that provide an overview of a given topic or offer a viewpoint from an expert in the field. They seek a broad international readership.
The summaries of ICAP Reviews are available in French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
To receive electronic updates about new ICAP Reviews and other ICAP work, please visit our registration page. Use the form on our Contact Us page to request past publications.
ICAP Reviews 4. Conflicting Interests, but Not Necessarily Conflicts of Interest
by Hurst Hannum
October 2009
(see also in French, Russian, Spanish)
The question at the heart of this issue of ICAP Reviews is, “What actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest may prevent stakeholders from playing a full role in alcohol policy development?” Although the emphasis of public debate around this issue tends to focus on the role of the private sector, the question could equally apply to nongovernmental organizations and other civil society stakeholders.
ICAP approaches this debate in light of the publication of the book, Working Together to Reduce Harmful Drinking (Routledge, 2009), which lays out for the international community a coherent view of what beverage alcohol producers can do to help reduce harmful drinking.
The idea behind this ICAP Review was to provide two opposing views on the involvement of the beverage alcohol industry in policy discussions. Although we invited input from a number of industry critics, all were unavailable to comment. We therefore present the opinion piece by Hurst Hannum, Professor of International Law at Tufts University (USA) and an ICAP Senior Consultant, with an invitation for comment from others in the field. Please send your comments to info@icap.org. We hope to spark a constructive debate on this web page and reserve the right to review feedback for relevance and appropriateness. While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and are not abusive or frivolous, moderating decisions is subjective; we will make them as carefully and consistently as we can.
ICAP Reviews 3. Noncommercial Alcohol in Three Regions
by Moruf Adelekan, Yury E. Razvodovsky, and Uditha Liyanage
Commentary by David M. Ndetei
October 2008
Summary (see also French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish): A significant portion of alcohol produced, sold, and consumed around the world is not reflected in official statistics. This ICAP Review focuses on the prevalence of "noncommercial alcohol" in sub-Saharan Africa, central and eastern Europe, and southern Asia. "Noncommercial alcohol" is defined as traditional drinks produced for home consumption or limited local trade, unregistered and counterfeit products, and nonbeverage—or surrogate—alcohols. The Review papers are written by regional experts familiar with local research and regional trends. Each paper provides a literature review and introduces new data. This ICAP Review contributes to a better understanding of the informal alcohol sector, identifies available local and international research, and highlights areas for further work.
ICAP Reviews 2. Drinking in Context: A Collective Responsibility
by Gerry V. Stimson
November 2006
(see also in Chinese, French, Spanish, Swedish)
Summary (see also French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish): In selecting alcohol policies, societies must decide how to encourage some behaviors and discourage others, while maintaining what they perceive as an appropriate balance between state and individual responsibility. This issue of ICAP Reviews proposes a fresh approach to tackling this process in a way that respects the multiplicity of drinking cultures existing around the world and is responsive to the varying needs and resources in different communities, countries, or regions. The Review sets the stage for the recently published book, Drinking in Context: Patterns, Interventions, and Partnerships (Stimson, Grant, Choquet, and Garrison; Routledge, 2007), by outlining the volume’s three key themes. Namely, it is argued that patterns of drinking are the best way to describe drinking behavior and predict both positive and negative outcomes in a given society; that targeted interventions are key in maximizing the benefits and minimizing the harms related to drinking; and that multi-stakeholder partnerships offer an excellent opportunity to promote the complex mix of measures required by each society. In the broadest terms, the purpose of alcohol policy in the countries where alcohol beverages are permitted is to establish appropriate, realistic, and sustainable approaches that will help reduce alcohol-related harms, promote safer drinking behaviors, and enhance the positive function of alcohol consumption for individuals and society.
ICAP Reviews 1. Beverage Alcohol Availability Controls
by Lucia Antalova and Marjana Martinic
September 2005
Summary (see also French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish): Many governments implement a range of measures limiting the physical availability and economic accessibility of alcohol. This issue of ICAP Reviews focuses on the former: policy solutions designed to make alcohol available at limited times and in a limited number and type of locations. The rationale behind alcohol availability controls as a policy measure is relatively simple: By making access to beverage alcohol more difficult, consumption will be decreased—and, with it, the incidence of problems. The public health perspective sees curbing alcohol consumption as a means of preventing a range of social and health problems and reducing the alcohol-related burden on society. This paper provides an introductory overview of availability controls and examines case studies of state-run monopolies, policy harmonization, and hours of sale in several countries. Based on the evidence of how such measures have been implemented, several conclusions can be drawn. In general, measures implemented around alcohol policy can only be effective if backed by proper enforcement, education of the general public about drinking patterns and outcomes, the implementation of adequate prevention, and the involvement of the broader community. No policy measure exists in a vacuum. How best to deal with the availability of alcohol is no exception.