The alcohol industry

• The World Health Organization defines the alcohol industry as: “Manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, wholesale distributors, major retailers and importers that deal solely and exclusively in alcoholic beverages or whose primary income comes from trade in alcohol beverages, as well as business associations or other non-State actors representing any of the afore-mentioned entities. Other non-State actors who are engaged in the sale of alcohol, receive funding from the alcohol industry (including funding for research) or have intrinsic links to the above-mentioned entities should be reviewed on a case by case basis in order to determine whether they should also be viewed as ‘alcohol industry’.” (WHO)
• The industry’s value chain is supported by a number of collective bodies, which give producers a voice in the public sphere.
• This includes trade associations (e.g. The Scotch Whisky Association) and ‘social aspects and public relations organisations’ (SAPROs, e.g. Drinkaware)

What is the alcohol industry? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

How is the alcohol industry split? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

How many people does the alcohol industry employ? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• This is for off-trade sales only, which makes up the majority of alcohol sold in the UK.

Who are the top-selling alcohol brands in the UK? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

How have the top brands’ sales values changed? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• In 2022, there were 158,000 licensed on-trade premises, including pubs and bars. The largest UK pub operators are:

Who are the leading alcohol retailers in the UK (on-trade)? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• 73% of alcohol consumed in the UK is purchased from off-trade premises (BBPA 2023, Table B11).
• Major grocery retailers represent two-thirds of off-trade sales. 
• Specialist alcohol retailers and corner shops represent 25%.
• Convenience stores represent a tenth.

Who are the leading alcohol retailers in the UK (off-trade)? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• Industry actors seek to influence policy by framing arguments around alcohol in a way that places responsibility on a minority of ‘problematic’ individual consumers, and thus away from alcohol itself, the industry’s practices and population-level policy measures. (McCambridge, 2018)
• The alcohol industry’s actions to influence policy and regulation are similar to that of the tobacco industry’s actions. (Bond, L. et al., 2010; Savell, E. et al., 2016; McCambridge, J. and Morris, S., 2019)
• Researchers have identified 5 key ways in which the industry attempts to influence regulations (Savell, E. 2016)
  • Constituency building: 
    • Forming industry groups and associations to assist coordination and collaboration
    • Forming alliances with sympathetic non-trade bodies e.g. think tanks
  • Policy substation: 
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, apparently promoting the social good independently of the government
    • Developing self-regulation as an alternative to government restrictions
  • Information and messaging: 
    • Developing evidence: Funding and shaping original research
    • Disseminating evidence: collating and interpreting existing evidence, for the public and policymakers
    • Lobbying: making direct proposals and representations to policymakers
  • Economic incentives: 
    • Using economic incentives to influence policymakers, particularly employment opportunities and connections
  • Trade litigation: 
    • Shaping trade policy to secure favourable terms and access to new markets
    • Using legal challenges to undermine unfavourable policies and regulation (typically on the basis of trade law)