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How the alcohol industry influences policy across Europe

First published: 09 May 2019 | Last updated: 20 May 2019

European alcohol industries are large and globally dominant.  They thus have interests at multiple levels, beyond Europe as well as within it.  In the interest of protecting sales &/or profits, they demand to be at any relevant policy table, and share common interests which are often opposed to public health.  Various arenas and mechanisms of action by the industry are considered.  Only occasionally do processes of pressure and influence in political arenas become visible; several examples of indirect methods (co-optation) and of direct application of pressure are considered.  Observations are offered on the differential strength of alcohol industries in European countries, on industry influence in international venues, on the possible convergence of social aspects organizations and trade bodies, and on factors increasing and decreasing industry power.

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Report Author

Robin Room

Director of SoRAD


The sociologist Robin Room has been the leader of alcohol or addiction research institutes in Berkeley, California, Toronto, Canada and now in Stockholm, Sweden. He is a Professor at Stockholm University and Director of SoRAD. He has worked on general-population studies of drinking and drug use and problems, and of gambling behaviour and problems; on studies of the social handling of alcohol and drug problems, including informal responses and treatment system studies; and on research on the development and functioning of alcohol and drug control systems. Other interests include studies of the cultural position of drinking and intoxication, studies of addiction and other concepts of alcohol and drug problems, and cross-cultural comparative research.

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