As the United Nations gathers for its annual General Assembly, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals will take center stage. One promising area under Sustainable Development Goal 3 regarding good health and well-being, is the progress that the world has made on reducing the harmful use of alcohol.
On several key indicators, we’ve made important shifts. According to the World Health Organization, “From 2010 to 2019, the number of deaths attributable to alcohol per 100 000 people decreased by 20.2% — greater than the overall decrease in total deaths worldwide for the same period of time (14.8%); similarly a decrease in the number of alcohol-attributable DALYs lost within the same period (18.3%) was larger than the observed decrease in all-cause DALYs lost (14.0%).” Fewer people are drinking and driving, fewer people are binge drinking, and fewer people are dying from using alcohol in a harmful way.
While the numbers are a source of optimism, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done, and collaboration between the public and private sectors is key to continuing this encouraging trend.
About the author
Emma McClarkin OBE
Emma McClarkin has been the CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association since 2019 and was awarded an Order of the British Empire, or OBE, for her exceptional services to the hospitality industry. Before joining BBPA, she served as a member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands for 10 years. She has also held posts including chair of the Commonwealth Forum and director of global policy for the Sports Integrity Global Alliance and is currently chair of the World Brewing Alliance, vice chair of the Tourism Alliance Board, and director of the Ivors Academy.