Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad

Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad

From People and For People – Powering Effective Alcohol Taxation Advocacy

Date

December 08, 2025

Time

3.00 – 4.00 pm CET

Registration

Please follow the link to register for the Zoom Event, here.

Background

Alcohol taxation is the most powerful alcohol policy solution. It delivers a quadruple win: saving lives, strengthening economies, raising revenue for health and development priorities, and promoting social justice. Yet, despite overwhelming scientific evidence and strong public support, alcohol taxation remains underused in many countries – in part due to aggressive alcohol industry interference, myths, and misleading claims. At the same time, alcohol taxation advocates have achieved remarkable progress in countries around the world, overcoming industry interference and achieving alcohol tax reform.

Movendi International and partners have worked for more than a decade to elevate alcohol taxation on global and national agendas. Today, advocates around the world are driving reforms that protect communities, reduce inequalities, and promote sustainable development.

The Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad brings this work together – from people and for people – driven by lived experience, centring values-based communication, and equipping advocates with the strategies and evidence needed to turn public support into policy action.

Purpose

This event will introduce the Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad – a new and unique global resource hub designed to make alcohol taxation advocacy more strategic, evidence-informed, and impactful. From people, for people.

The session brings together partners from Sri Lanka, Brazil, Ghana, Vital Strategies, and others (TBC) to share real-world experiences of advancing alcohol taxation advocacy through building political momentum, overcoming industry interference, building partnerships, and mobilising public support.

It will also officially launch new Movendi International advocacy tools that help turn public demand into effective alcohol tax reforms.

Objectives

1. Present the Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad as a people-centred, evidence-informed toolkit for effective alcohol taxation advocacy.

2. Share real-world lessons and insights from local alcohol taxation initiatives and technical partners on advancing alcohol tax reforms.

3. Increase understanding of the alcohol taxation quadruple win – and its potential to advance the SDGs.

4. Inspire action by equipping participants with practical tools and concrete insights to turn public support into sustained policy change.

Programme

1. Welcome & Framing (5 minutes)

Moderator: Pubudu Sumanasekara, International Vice President, Movendi International

• Why advocacy matters for alcohol policy progress

• From people and for people: values-based advocacy for social justice

• Introducing the purpose of the event

2. Presentation – Inside the Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad (10 minutes)

Speaker: Maik Dünnbier

• The Alcohol Taxation Advocacy Launchpad vision

• Global advocacy impact timeline

• Country success stories: Sri Lanka, Ghana, Brazil

• State of the art science: effectiveness of alcohol taxation

• Tax models and structures around the world

• Public support & lived experience resources

• How to use the Launchpad strategically in national advocacy

3. Country Insights – Advocacy in Practice (4 × 5 minutes)

Sampath De Seram, Executive Director, Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC): Civil society leadership, long-term engagement, and policy wins in Sri Lanka

Juliana Ferreira, Advocacy Advisor, ACT Health Promotion: Public momentum, reform windows, and strategic insights from advocacy efforts in Brazil

Labram Musa, Executive Director, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST): National development priorities intersecting with alcohol tax reform and strategic insights from advocacy efforts in Ghana

Dr. Nalin Singh Negi, Associate Director of Research at Vital Strategies: Understanding public concern about alcohol harms and support for raising alcohol taxes in RESET countries

4. Panel Discussion – Strategies for Effective Alcohol Tax Advocacy (15 minutes)

Moderated discussion among speakers:

• Building broad coalitions and working across sectors

• Navigating industry interference

• Engaging ministries of finance and development actors

• Turning public support into political commitment

• Centering lived experience and values-based narratives

• Leveraging science for advocacy impact

5. Audience Q&A (10 minutes)

Open exchange with participants.

6. Closing & Call to Action (5 minutes)

By the moderator

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand how to use the Launchpad resources in national advocacy initiatives.

• Have new insights from country partners on successful advocacy approaches.

• Be equipped to strengthen public-facing narratives.

• Join a growing global community working to deliver the quadruple win of alcohol taxation.