Francisca Pulido Valente a Ana Carolina Baptista a Bárbara S. Vieira baPublic Health Unit of Amadora, Local Health Unit Amadora-Sintra, Amadora, Portugal; bPublic Health UnitArnaldo Sampaio, Local Health Unit Arco Ribeirinho, Barreiro, Portugal
(PDF) Analysis of the Alcohol Industry’s Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Portugal. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382673911_Analysis_of_the_Alcohol_Industry’s_Corporate_Social_Responsibility_Practices_in_Portugal [accessed Jul 03 2026].
Abstract
Introduction: In Portugal, the alcohol industry (AI) engagesin corporate political activity, influencing decision-makingand potentially obstructing the implementation ofevidence-based alcohol policies, such as higher taxes,stricter advertising laws, and mandatory warning labels onall alcoholic beverages. Yet, no research has been conductedspecifically on the industry’s corporate social responsibilityactivities (CSR), which can also hinder the implementation ofthese cost-effective policies while serving as a means fornurturing its reputation.
Methods: This study addresses thisgap by examining the CSR practices of ten AI actors inPortugal. Through qualitative content analysis, data col-lected from their websites was categorized based on anadapted framework considering seven CSR categories.
Results: The results revealed CSR practices across all cate-gories, with corporate philanthropy and alcohol informationprovision and education accounting for 65% of the analyzeddata. The findings highlight potential conflicts between thepublic health initiatives of AI in Portugal and its profit-drivenobjectives. Conclusion: CSR activities undermine healthprotection and alcohol harm prevention efforts by pro-moting a dubious discourse about an undeniably harmfulsubstance. The present study recommends consideringvigilant monitoring, regulation, or even the ban on CSRpractices of AI in Portugal.
(PDF) Analysis of the Alcohol Industry’s Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Portugal. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382673911_Analysis_of_the_Alcohol_Industry’s_Corporate_Social_Responsibility_Practices_in_Portugal [accessed Jul 03 2026].