This report, developed by Action on Smoking and Health, Obesity Health Alliance and Alcohol Health Alliance, highlights the common strategies used by the tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink industries to delay and undermine public health policies in order to protect their business models. The report sets out the serious health harms caused by these unhealthy products as well as the high levels of public support for protecting health policy from the influence of industry.
The report makes three key recommendations for parliamentarians to protect public health policy from the actions of unhealthy product industries:
- Avoid conflicts of interests and reject corporate hospitality (such as tickets to sporting or cultural events) from unhealthy product industries
- Stand up for your constituents’ health and call on the government to adopt transparent principles for engagement and interaction with unhealthy product industries
- Equip yourself to challenge common industry arguments that undermine public health
The report includes an industry argument bingo card which highlights the common arguments used by these industries and their front groups.
Our government Affairs Lead, Alfie Slade features on The Institute of Alcohol Studies podcast ‘Alcohol Alert’ talking about excluding industry from policymaking.
Read more in The Guardian’ UK MPs urged to give up freebies from tobacco, alcohol and junk food firms‘.