Authors: Kate Robaina, MPH, Thomas Babor, PhD, MPH & Jonathan Noel, MPH (2016). Title: Evaluating compliance with alcohol industry self-regulation in seven countries in Africa. An external evaluation of the MAMPA (Monitoring Alcohol Marketing Practices in Africa) project.  Executive summary Introduction The Monitoring Alcohol Marketing Practices in Africa (MAMPA) Project was a public health surveillance program devoted to Read More →

In recent years the Dutch government gave  a € 6.6 million grant to Heineken for so-called development aid in Africa. Prime Minister Rutte praised Heineken in September 2015 during a speech to the UN, because of the purchase of beer barley from local farmers in Africa.

Research journalists of the Dutch television-program Zembla studied the impact of the € 1.3 million grant Heineken received from the Dutch government for the acquisition of two state breweries in Ethiopia.

Who benefited? The advantage for Heineken is obvious: net sales rose sharply and the company now controls 30% of the Ethiopian beer market. But that does not apply to the Ethiopian government: Heineken currently pays – despite increased sales – less income tax than before the acquisition in 2011. In addition, Heineken also paid much less wage tax. That’s because since the acquisition of the two breweries, 699 Ethiopians were fired by Heineken.

The impact on poverty in the country and on the beer barley farmers who participate is unclear. The latter have a higher yield and a better price, but may only supply the breweries of Heineken. An expert of the IMF judges the results of the Dutch policy as a lose-lose-win situation. A loss for the Ethiopian treasury, a loss for the personnel of the breweries and a win for Heineken.

Source: Zembla.vara.nl via our colleagues at STAP the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy.

The Ghanaian Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has asked the media to ensure that advertisements on food, medicines and cosmetics are prevetted by government authority, before such adverts are aired of published. These include alcohol ads. “A manufacturer or distributor, advertising agent and advertising media and or organisation who advertises a food product without the Read More →

On the 31st of January, the Dutch television program ‘Nieuwsuur’ broadcasted a program on the fast growing beer market in Ethopia that is subsidized by Dutch foreign aid. Africa is the place to be for international beer brewers. The fast growing middle class poses an opportunity for alcohol producers. Water and fertile grounds is allocated Read More →

Author: Avalon de Bruijn, Carina Ferreira-Borges, Rutger Engels & Megha Bhavsar Title: Monitoring outdoor alcohol advertising in developing countries: Findings of a pilot study in five African countries Journal:  African Journal of Drug and Alcohol Studies 13.1 (2014). Abstract This paper aims to describe alcohol advertising in the public arena of Gambia, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria and Uganda. Analyses on the Read More →