Public health experts are calling for a ban on alcohol industry-funded education programs in UK universities and schools. They say the education programs normalize drinking and downplay the long-term health risks of alcohol.
These include an industry-sponsored Freshers' Week Survival Guide for university students and a theater-based education program in schools funded by Diageo, one of the world's largest alcoholic beverage companies. There is an investigation report. BMJ.
The call follows a successful campaign in Ireland to remove alcohol industry-funded education programs from schools.
But in the UK, universities have launched an initiative funded by Drinkware (a charity funded by major alcohol producers, retailers, venues and restaurant groups) aimed at teaching students 'responsible' drinking skills. We continue to welcome them.
For example, in universities, Drinkaware materials such as free cups to measure alcohol units and wheels with units and calories of popular drinks are distributed to students, and a “Back to School Survival Guide'' teaches students It is advised to take. Consume protein or protein before going out and drink plenty of water.
Drinkaware told the BMJ that “cups and wheels help people understand how much they are drinking.” Additionally, it is a direct quote from the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines, which state that the purpose of the guidelines is to inform people, not to discourage them from drinking, as drinking is “considered normal behavior.” , he added.
But Mark Petticrew, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said this focused on the short-term effects of drinking. “Food is not associated with alcohol's long-term harms, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders,” he argues.
May van Schalkwyk, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, added that the document draws in part on advice from the chief medical officer.
The Department for Education said the university was a private institution and the government had no power to review material distributed to UK students.
In Wales, universities were provided with a toolkit created by the Welsh Government, NUS Wales and Drinkware to help them assess whether they are protecting students from alcohol.
However, Mark Petticrew said the toolkit was “misinformed” because it omitted any information about the risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, injury and alcohol-related death. Criticized that there is. “The whole document is structured to protect the reputation of the industry, not to protect young people in universities from harm,” he says.
Karen Tyrell, Drinkaware's chief executive, described the company's work at UK universities as a “practical and valuable contribution to reducing alcohol-related harm across the UK”.
We work at the granularity of public opinion and treat people as adults capable of making informed choices. Some people may not like it, but alcohol is part of our society and there is no public desire to change that at this time. We make no apologies for the work we have done to support our philanthropic and organizational causes. ”
Karen Tyrell, Drinkaware CEO
In the absence of specific bans, such as in Ireland, research has found that industry-related alcohol education charities also operate in schools, providing information to pupils as young as nine.
John Holmes, professor of alcohol policy at the University of Sheffield, said there was concern in the public health community about the low ratings of these industry-backed programs. Well-designed and effective programs have a role to play.
“Additionally, other measures are needed, including lowering alcohol affordability, reducing availability and increasing restrictions on alcohol sales,” he says.
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Reference magazines:
Davis, M. other. (2024). Heavy alcohol: Universities and schools are being asked to scrap industry-funded public health advice. BMJ. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q851.
