Minister Tufton circulated the memo to the leadership of the Regional Health Authorities to remind them that the Government was involved in a process of developing an alcohol policy and that public health should not engage in any activity that would seek to undermine the proposed policy direction by associating with or using the public-health platform to promote alcohol brands. According to the Minister this memo was necessary because of a number of visible promotional events linked to alcohol brands donating cash and kind to public-health institutions.
As Movendi International previously reported, the alcohol industry has been investing large amounts of money in the form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Jamaica, specifically during the ongoing pandemic.
The products and practices of the alcohol industry cause a large number of diseases including cancer and are a major risk factor for many other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). As Minister Tufton points out, promoting such products and practices directly or indirectly is a conflict of interest for public health. Promotions of this type undermine the role of public health in creating policies for healthier populations.
Minister Tufton stresses that regardless of the challenges of the pandemic, sound and responsible public-health institutions must not promote alcohol products. Adding that in the context of the pandemic alcohol related illness, injuries and motor accidents strain healthcare services even more – a fact supported by a groundbreaking report on the lethal interaction between alcohol and COVID-19.
Regardless of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, sound and responsible public-health institutions should not provide a platform for the promotion of alcoholic beverages,” wrote Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness in Jamaica, as per The Gleaner.
Indeed, the pandemic context means that alcohol related-illnesses, as well as alcohol-related motor vehicle injuries, can in fact put more strain on the already overburdened public-health system.”
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, Jamaica
Back in March 2020, when the coronavirus outbreak took hold of the planet, Movendi International issued a Statement of Concern regarding the role and actions of the alcohol industry during COVID-19. Major alcohol producers had announced their commitment to helping fight the novel coronavirus. Movendi International highlighted three reasons for concern. Now, some of these concerns are echoed by Minister Tufton.
- Free PR and extensive media coverage.
- Preferential treatment of the alcohol industry.
- More harmful marketing and less alcohol policy protections.
The Minister touches upon the alcohol burden in Jamaica, outlining that,
- Alcohol is the most widely used of all harmful substances.
- The alcohol-attributable death rate is 6.2 and 23.7 deaths per 100,000 for Jamaican women and men, respectively.
- In 2014, the Government of Jamaica spent an estimated J$12.6 billion to deliver direct and indirect healthcare to persons admitted to public hospitals islandwide suffering from injuries.
- Alcohol-impaired driving is one of the main factors contributing to motor vehicle accidents.
- The 2016 National Drug Use Prevalence Household Survey revealed that an estimated 15% of the population is at a medium to high risk of alcohol dependence. This translates to over 370,000 persons in the population being at risk. The country has only 2.9 million inhabitants.
Minister Tufton emphasized that Jamaica supports the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ call for a reduction in alcohol consumption and harm, as part of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Sustainable Development Goals. The country is also part of the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy. The Minister emphasized that as part of these global initiatives Jamaica is committed to the formulation of national policies, including a proposed National Alcohol Policy.
The draft National Alcohol Policy focuses on:
- Reducing alcohol harm;
- Controlling marketing of alcoholic beverages;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol policies and countermeasures;
- Reducing youth alcohol use;
- Reducing the negative consequences of alcohol use and intoxication; and
- Promoting law enforcement.
In the context of the heavy burden of alcohol on Jamaican society, the commitment of the government to reduce alcohol harm and the ongoing process of developing the national alcohol policy, accepting any donations or gifts from the same industry that causes the harm is a conflict of interest. It serves only to increase the positive brand image of the alcohol companies. The minister strongly stated that such activity does not serve Jamaica’s commitment to prevent and reduce harm and instead would undermine alcohol policy making. This is why it is necessary to protect public health from alcohol industry interests.
Given the alcohol-attributable death rate, alcohol-related illnesses, alcohol-caused motor vehicle accidents, and other social ills associated with […] alcohol, public health must lead the charge in representing good health and lifestyle practices,” wrote Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness in Jamaica, as per The Gleaner.
It cannot optimise this responsibility if we are providing a platform for alcohol brands. Public health has to stand without ambiguity on this issue.”
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, Jamaica
