Conflict of Interest in the Alcoholic Drinks Industry: How Much Alcohol Consumption Do “Unhealthy Drinkers” Account for in the United Kingdom, 2000-2001?
Summary
The alcohol industry has been advancing an agenda of corporate social responsibility, claiming that there is no conflict between commercial interests and public health goals. This study subjects this claim to critical scrutiny by estimating the share of total alcohol sales that are due to “unhealthy alcohol users” in the United Kingdom, extending previous studies geographically, methodologically, and conceptually. Includes secondary analysis of the amount of alcohol consumption above various official guidelines in four British datasets for 2000-2002: the National Diet and Nutrition Survey; the General Household Survey; Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People; and the March 2002 ONS Omnibus Survey.