Beer in society

Combating alcohol abuse and ensuring strong commercial governance.

Each day our beers are enjoyed by millions of consumers.  While the vast majority drink responsibly, the minority who do not are a risk to themselves, their families and the communities in which they live. 

Alcohol abuse, and associated societal issues such as violence, drunk-driving and underage drinking, are a cause of concern around the world. Over the next 10 years, the World Health Organisation predicts a 17% increase in non-communicable diseases¹ (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, some of which have been associated with alcohol abuse.

The causes of alcohol-related harm are broad and complex and there is no simple solution.  As a brewer, we care about the effects of irresponsible consumption and are determined to help tackle the causes. We have clear principles that guide the way we operate as a business. 

Our approach is to engage with stakeholders and work collectively to address irresponsible consumption.  We believe it's essential to gain insights into alcohol-related harm at a local level and we work with governments and their partners to deliver targeted interventions that respond to the challenges.   We aim to assess the impact our programmes are having on the problem and use this information to shape our strategy.

Find out more about our approach.

¹ WHO alcohol fact sheet 2011