WHEN the World Health Organisation (WHO) framework convention on tobacco control came into force in 2005, it was a watershed moment for public health as the first international effort to tackle the cause of an avoidable chronic disease. The aim of the treaty, which was one of the most quickly ratified in UN history, is to protect "present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke".
Ten years on, a leading international expert on tobacco control is calling for the same measures to be introduced to tackle the problems associated with alcohol misuse. Professor Gerard Hastings has argued that like tobacco, alcohol is an "industrial epidemic" where health issues are being driven by commercial interests. He argues that it is time to tackle the root cause by addressing issues around advertising, packaging and the way alcohol is sold – and that Scotland should play a leading role in calling for this.
The statistics clearly show the grim toll of alcohol-related harm both at home and abroad. In 2014, there were 1,152 alcohol-related deaths recorded in Scotland. Globally the death toll is estimated to be around 3.3million, and alcohol is the fifth leading cause of disease and disability in the world.
Hastings is surely correct in highlighting the need to take on big business in situations where the pursuit of profit conflicts with the public good – a case in point being the recent scandal over the rigging of emissions tests by car giant Volkswagen.
The alcohol industry has already challenged plans by the Scottish Government to introduce minimum unit pricing of alcohol, claiming it would be ineffective, despite the fact that measures to tackle alcohol abuse have already resulted in a drop in alcohol deaths.
However, while the risks associated with alcohol are undisputed and profit cannot be allowed to take precedence over public health, it should be remembered that many people enjoy moderate drinking, even if experts warn it is never risk-free.
The issue of how to deal with alcohol will be high on the agenda in Scotland this week as MSP Richard Simpson's private member's bill on alcohol is scrutinised by Holyrood and the Global Alcohol Policy Conference takes place in Edinburgh. But it has to be recognised there is a balance between tackling the harm caused by alcohol and freedom for individuals to make choices about how to lead their lives – including enjoying a drink.
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