Asia Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance

24/08/2026

Alert!

are powerful policies to reduce the consumption of harmful products such as alcohol. Well-designed alcohol taxes that are set high enough to raise retail prices substantially can help governments around the world take important steps toward tackling the harms of alcohol—from the 2.6 million deaths it causes each year to the immense community and family violence it fuels. Improved alcohol taxes also present significant opportunities to raise new revenues to fund health and social programs. Yet a new report finds that an overwhelming majority of countries are largely failing to embrace this smart public health policy.

On Sept. 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. GMT/ 9 a.m. ET, join Economics for Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health —a partner in the RESET Alcohol initiative, led by Vital Strategies —and special guests for a webinar launching the inaugural . This new report that grades 168 countries on the design of their alcohol excise taxes across three core components offers the most most comprehensive picture yet of how alcohol taxation policies measure up around the world.

Join this webinar organized by Economics for Health (EfH) to get a first look at the three-component scorecard grading countries on how well their alcohol taxes perform, built around what matters most for public health: price, tax share and tax structure.

- You'll see how countries stack up against each other and against best practices, with some notable differences emerging by product, region and income level.
- You’ll also hear a wide range of perspectives on how the scorecard's findings can move policy forward—from an international health organization representative specialized in fiscal policies for health and a civil-society economist who has spent over a decade fighting for stronger health taxes in Latin America.

Register here: https://mailchi.mp/vitalstrategies/webinar-how-well-is-the-world-taxing-alcohol-country-findings-from-the-inaugural-alcohol-tax-scorecard?e=8c6a47f3fd

13/06/2026

Registration extended! 👩‍💻

📣 Registration extended – the Alcohol Marketing Webinar has been moved to 25 June 2026 at 10:00-11:30 AM Manila time (GMT+8).

Alcohol is one of the most heavily marketed consumer products globally – reaching mass audiences through sports sponsorships, digital platforms and celebrity endorsement. In the Western Pacific Region, alcohol-related harm claims nearly one life every minute. – on individuals, their families and communities.

Join us as we examine the evidence, emerging challenges and what effective policy needs to look like to work. How can we apply lessons learned from restrictions on to***co and breastmilk substitutes marketing?

Register via the link in comments. ⬇️

11/06/2026

: Study finds that "moderate drinking" increases the risk of disease and premature death, debunking the perceived benefits of low alcohol consumption.

In a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, researchers found no protective effect of alcohol at any level of consumption. They reported that what is often considered "moderate" drinking substantially increases the risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease, as well as premature death.

The findings reinforce the growing body of evidence that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. APAPA calls on countries to protect public health by implementing measures that reduce population-level alcohol consumption.

You can access the full article here:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the lifetime risk of alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity in the United States based on a person’s average lifetime weekly alcohol consumption to assess the impact of per-occasion alcohol consumption on health. Method: Lifetime risks wer...

31/05/2026

We are proud to share that Dr. Gayle Amul, PhD, Secretary of the Asia Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance, will be presenting at the 51st Annual Symposium of the Kettil Bruun Society (KBS) for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol in Lithuania.

Dr. Amul will present our alcohol industry monitoring report from the Philippines, which highlights emerging alcohol marketing practices that appeal to children and young people, as well as the importance of alcohol control policies in protecting them from alcohol exposure and harms

See you and we look forward to contributing to the discussions at KBS 2026.

27/05/2026

& Monitor Alert!

🔎 New antitrust probe in highlights ongoing concerns about alcohol industry practices

India’s Competition Commission has ordered an investigation into over alleged exclusive agreements with retailers that may have required a significant share of shelf space to be dedicated to its brands, potentially distorting competition and limiting consumer choice.

This is not an isolated issue—it reflects a broader, well-documented pattern. Across markets, has been found to use strategies such as:

• Financial incentives or credit support tied to product placement
• Exclusive or preferential retail agreements

These tactics can undermine the intent of regulation by consolidating market power.

Research consistently shows that the alcohol industry also deploys wider strategies to protect commercial interests—ranging from promoting self-regulation and shaping evidence, to influencing policy environments and public narratives.

👉 This case is an important reminder for policymakers and regulators across the Asia-Pacific region: Strong enforcement, transparency, and safeguards against industry interference are essential to protect both public health.

Read about it from Reuters:
- https://www.reuters.com/world/india-orders-antitrust-probe-into-liquor-giant-pernods-dealing-with-retailers-2026-05-08/
- https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/indian-capital-opposes-pernods-liquor-plea-firm-says-business-hopelessly-2026-05-13/

FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling World Health Organization South-East Asia Region - WHO SEARO

Regulators in India's capital are seeking to strike down French giant Pernod Ricard's fresh court challenge against ‌rejection of its city liquor licence, which the company says has left its business "hopelessly fettered" for three years, documents show.

01/05/2026

Behind Every Statistic Is a Name: Strengthening Alcohol Policy in the PH to Protect Filipino Families

"Dahil sa Alak, Kawawa ang Pamilya"

: The Sin Tax Coalition in the Philippines recently launched a campaign to address alcohol harms.

Advancing a stronger alcohol policy grounded in public health. Discussions that convened policymakers, advocates, and lived-experience participants reinforced a position aligned with APAPA.

Alcohol harm is systemic, preventable, and disproportionately affects families and vulnerable populations. APAPA underscores that policy must correct this imbalance. Health taxes are a key lever, but not sufficient on their own. House Bill 3887 proposes sustained excise tax increases alongside measures on access, online sales, and youth exposure. What is required is a comprehensive approach, from taxation and regulation to awareness and cultural shift, supported by intersectoral collaboration, including potential partnerships and policy action through local governments.

Behind every statistic is a name.

Delaying action sustains preventable harm.

Protect every family. Protect every Filipino.

Department of Health (Philippines) Health Promotion Program

Link to the livestream: https://lnkd.in/garnf_Kz

22/04/2026

APAPA would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling Norway for supporting the participation of the Asia Pacific Alcohol Policy Alliance Chair, Rodley Carza and Secretary, Gianna Gayle Amul at the Global Alcohol Policy Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

FORUT's support for Global South representation at the Global Alcohol Policy Conference is immeasurable. The APAPA Secretariat values the knowledge, lessons learned, the interactions and the network built at the conference, which is uniquely different from the connections we make online. Nothing can replace in-person interactions.