We all want to see our communities and societies thrive. This will happen when we create environments that enhance people’s well-being, social connections, and fair access to our common resources.
But sustainable development remains out of reach for many. A major reason for that is the harms caused by alcohol companies. The alcohol industry, exactly like Big Tobacco, is deploying a range of strategies that put their own profits before people, often exploiting the most vulnerable people in our communities and societies.
The products and practices of alcohol companies cause cancer and fuel violence, for instance. Big Alcohol lobbies against any attempt to develop policy solutions that would protect people from alcohol harm. Alcohol companies and their front groups interfere in countries all around the world jeopardizing people’s well-being, social connections and fair access to our common resources.
That’s why we need to address alcohol as major obstacle to development. We have a set of proven alcohol policy solutions that help protect people and communities from alcohol harms.
Solutions, such as higher alcohol taxation, common sense limits on the presence of alcohol in our communities, and protections from exposure to alcohol marketing are powerful catalysts to reduce the alcohol burden. They help ensure thriving communities and societies with health and development for all.”
Kristina Sperkova, International President, Movendi International
Achieving the SDGs through tackling alcohol as obstacle to development
The 2030 Agenda contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets. It’s a comprehensive roadmap for humanity to tackle the world’s biggest problems – coherently and jointly. The 17 SDGs cover all three aspects of sustainable human development: the social, environmental, and economic dimension.
But the SDGs are in peril – and alcohol harm plays a major role.
At the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda nearly a third of the 169 SDG targets have not seen any progress since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015 and just 12% are on track to be achieved by 2030 according to Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ 2023 SDG Progress Report. And the COVID-19 public health crisis has put the promise “not to leave anyone behind” further out of reach.
Movendi International provides a unique analysis of how alcohol impedes progress across the SDGs and how alcohol policy solutions help achieve health and development for all.
Alcohol adversely affects 14 out of 17 SDGs, and a total of 46 targets. Alcohol is a serious obstacle to development adversely affecting all three dimensions of sustainable development and harming all aspects of society.
The products and practices of the alcohol industry are jeopardizing human capital, undermining economic productivity, eroding the social fabric, and burdening health systems.
And they harm human happiness and well-being. In addition to human health the alcohol industry also harms planetary health.
