Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Social

DevelopmentCape Town

20 October 2009

Agenda

Global Developments

The Problem

ARA History and Mission

Focus Areas

Activities

Global DevelopmentsWorld Health Organisation Concerns

• Premature alcohol-attributable deaths

• High ranking as a risk factor for the global burden of disease

• Link to violence, including domestic violence, road traffic accidents and other social problems

• Harm to people other than the drinker

• Harm caused by drinking during pregnancy

Global Developments

• World Health Assembly 2008• Resolution WHA 61.4 (“the most significant review of

alcohol policy in 25 years”)

Resolution WHA 61.4REQUESTS the Director-General:

• to prepare a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol that is based on all available evidence and existing best practices and that addresses relevant policy options, taking into account different national, religious and cultural contexts, including national public health problems, needs and priorities, and differences in Member States’ resources, capacities and capabilities;

• to ensure that the draft global strategy will be composed of a set of proposedmeasures recommended for states to implement at the national level taking into account the national circumstances of each country;

• to include full details of ongoing and emerging regional, sub-regional and national processes as vital contributions to a global strategy;

• to collaborate and consult with Member States as well as consult with intergovernmental organizations, health professionals, nongovernmental organizations and economic operators on ways they could contribute to reducing harmful use of alcohol;

• to submit to the Sixty-third World Health Assembly, through the Executive Board, a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol.

Global strategy development• Web based consultation October/November 2008• Meeting with economic operators 6 November 2008• Meeting with NGO’s and health professionals 24/25 November 2008• Consultation meeting with member states 29 February 2009• Six Regional technical consultation meetings with member states

February to May 2009• WHO working document 27 August 2009• Meeting with Inter-governmental organisations 8 September 2009• Meeting with member states on 8 October 2009• Strategy to be discussed at Executive Board in third week of January

2010• If agreed by Executive Board will be presented to World Health

Assembly in May 2010 for approval

WHO Working Document 27 August 2009

The strategy has five objectives:(1) raised global awareness of the magnitude and nature of public

health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol, and increased commitment by governments to act to prevent and reduce harmful use of alcohol

(2) mobilization of all relevant parties to take appropriate and concerted action to prevent and reduce harmful use of alcohol

(3) support and enhancement of national capacity and capability in order to prevent and reduce harmful use of alcohol, as well as to treat alcohol-use disorders and associated health conditions

(4) strengthened knowledge base on the magnitude and determinants of alcohol-related harm and on effective interventions to reduce and prevent such harm

(5) better systems for monitoring and surveillance at different levels, and securing effective dissemination and appropriate application of this information.

Industry commentary• We strongly support WHO/Member State efforts to identify and

implement sound approaches to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

• We play an active role in efforts to reduce harmful use, are willing to do more along with relevant others, and want to be constructive in our input.

• However, we believe the paper does not provide a full and balanced discussion of options, evidence or implementation considerations and costs with which Member States (developed and developing) must grapple as they consider how to cost-effectively and sustainably reduce harmful use of alcohol. 

• The paper focuses almost entirely upon strict government control of commercial activity and availability, and is highly prescriptive without providing clear, evidence-based analysis of the full range of potential options, stakeholder roles and responsibilities and implementation considerations.

The problem

• Excessive drinking

• Drinking and driving

• Underage drinking

• Violence

• Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

The problem• “FOETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME’S HARVEST OF

SORROW” – Cape Times 3 March• “SOUTH AFRICANS DRINK TOO MUCH” – Citizen 17 March• “ALARMING SITUATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

AMONG CHILDREN IS GETTING WORSE” – Cape Times 19 March

• “SA VIOLENCE FUELLED BY ALCOHOL” – Weekender 26 April

• “KIDS HIT THE BOTTLE YOUNGER” – Citizen 23 August• “DEATH IN A DOP BOTTLE” – Daily Voice 5 May• “LIQUOR BILL IGNORES THOSE WHO BEAR THE BRUNT

OF ALCOHOL ABUSE” – Cape Times 3 July• “ANATOMY OF A NIGHTMARE” – Mercury 9 July

– “Alcohol and substance abuse are a key factor in contact crimes such as rape, murder, assault and robbery…”

• “DRINK STILL THE CURSE OF THE CAPE – Weekend Argus 8 November

The Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA)

• Established by the major manufacturers in 1989• Current full members: SAB, SALBA, VinPro, Wine

Cellars SA• Associate members (e.g. TOPS, Makro, Diamond

Liquors) some 70 in total• Registered with the Department of Social

Development as a NPO

ARA Mission

To reduce alcohol-related harm

through

combating the misuse and abuse of alcohol beverages, and

promoting only their responsible use.

ARA Focus Areas

• Effective self-regulation -

by member companies, and other alcohol beverage

manufacturers, distributors and retailers

• Partnerships - with government, public health bodies and other

relevant stakeholders to combat misuse and abuse

• Education - on the nature and risks of alcohol misuse and abuse, and on the responsible use of alcohol beverages

Effective Self-regulation

Codes of Practice:

– ARA Commercial Communications Code (CCC) (includes advertising, promotions, packaging, digital and media rules)

– Advertising Standards Authority Code (based on ARA CCC)

– Code of Conduct for all ARA members presented to Minister of Trade and Industry for endorsement in accordance with the Liquor Act of 2003

Draft Code presented to DTICONDUCT PROMOTING A RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE TO THE

COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATION OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES– ARA members adhere to the ARA Code of Commercial

Communication.

CONDUCT RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, DISTRIBUTION OR SALE OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES– ARA members will not supply alcohol beverages as an

inducement to employment or in lieu of wages or remuneration.

– ARA members will not purchase, distribute or sell illicit or stolen alcohol beverages.

– ARA members will not supply alcohol beverages to anyone who has been convicted of the offence of selling alcohol beverages to a minor.

– ARA members will not supply alcohol beverages to anyone who has been convicted of the offence of selling alcohol beverages to an intoxicated person.

Draft CodeCONDUCT RELATING TO CONSUMERS

• Alcohol beverages are not sold or supplied to minors. If uncertain, proof of age is requested.

• The rapid and/or excessive consumption of alcohol beverages is discouraged and promotions with this objective are not permitted.

• Where practical, information about taxi and public transport services is displayed.

• Food and non-alcoholic drinks are available.• Alcohol beverages are not sold or supplied to intoxicated persons.• Disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour on the part of

consumers is not tolerated.• On-premise activities which could result in undue offence,

annoyance, disturbance, noise or inconvenience to people who reside, work or worship in the vicinity are not tolerated.

Draft Code

CONDUCT RELATING TO RETAIL TRADERS

– ARA members will encourage unregistered retail traders to register and obtain licenses.

– ARA members will encourage unregistered retail traders to undergo licensee training.

– ARA members will encourage retail traders to undergo server training.

– ARA members will encourage retail traders to participate actively in the activities of the ARA in order to promote the responsible use of alcohol beverages and to discourage misuse and abuse.

Draft CodeCOMPLIANCE• Members of the ARA undertake to have in place within

their organization a programme to make all employees aware of the Code, its contents and purpose, and the complaints

handling procedure. • Each member will be required to sign an annual

Certificate of Compliance confirming the extent of their compliance or non-compliance with the Code and the remedial action taken in the case of the latter. A copy of the Certificate will be submitted to the National Liquor Authority and a copy to the ARA for purposes of record.

• The ARA will only be able to react once a complaint has been laid against one of its members and is clearly not

in a position to monitor its members’ behaviour on a day-to-day basis, particularly in respect of those instances where a law has been broken. In these cases the state will have to play its expected role in regard to policing and applying the

necessary sanction.

Draft CodeCOMPLAINTS HANDLING PROCEDURE• All complaints laid in terms of the Code will be submitted in writing

to the party alleged to be in breach of the Code. Copies will be submitted to the arbitrator and the assessors.

• The party alleged to be in breach will have 14 days in which to respond. Such response shall be in writing with copies submitted to the arbitrator and the assessors.

• Failure to respond will have the same effect as an unsatisfactory response in that a hearing will be scheduled within 14 days.

• The panel hearing the complaint shall comprise the independent arbitrator retained by ARA for these matters and the assessors. The arbitrator will hand down a ruling within 48 hours of the completion of the hearing.

• The ultimate penalty for non-compliance will be a public announcement that the guilty party has had its membership of ARA terminated, with reasons for the termination. A copy of the announcement will be submitted to the Director-General of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Scope of the Code of Commercial Communication

• Mandatory for all ARA members

• All forms of commercial communication

• Applies over and above existing regulatory and self-regulatory requirements

• Covers both explicit imagery and implied associations

• Activities must be in keeping with both the letter and the spirit of the Code

• Applies equally to non-alcoholic products and brand variants