Public Health v Alcohol Industry Compliance Laws: A Case of Industry Capture?
Research article
Abstract
This article confirms industry compliance and enforcement processes are an essential consideration in the growing pantheon of legal and commercial determinants of public health.
Whilst alcohol control laws vary between individual jurisdictions, their development and application are confronted by a common threat of undue industry influence or capture. This necessitates a greater understanding of this phenomenon to better inform a collective and effective international public health response.
New South Wales (NSW) Australia, has developed a layer of alcohol industry compliance laws in the form of disciplinary schemes. This article critically explicates the first of these, the Violent Venues Scheme (VVS) to determine the nature and extent of any capture. This would significantly compromise harm minimisation statutory objects and disrupt the democratic process and the rule of law.
In contrast, an influential industry identity, attributed the earlier last drinks laws, VVS and a related scheme as causing the alleged destruction of Sydney’s night time economy and fun.
The research also analyses the indispensable role of a neoliberal paradigm in legitimising exclusive relationships between governments and industry. This is indelibly imprinted on the alcohol regulatory landscape. One resistant to evidence based public health orientated improvements.
Author’s quote
This paper makes an important new contribution to better understand how the industry and individual liquor lords actually unduly influences governments through the laws, including compliance laws.
It also includes a great example of neoliberal narrative promoting exclusive relations between industry and government, excluding civil society and other stakeholders.”
Tony Brown, PhD candidate, University of Newcastle
