An Integrated Alcohol Control Policy: What, Why and How?

Abstract

In response to the calls for more integrated governmental actions across different policy sectors, this paper discusses what an integrated alcohol control policy is; why alcohol control policies should be integrated; and how alcohol control policy integration can be accomplished. The theoretical discussion is illustrated by empirical examples from Finnish and Swedish alcohol control policies in their encounter with the European Union (EU). The central argument of this paper is that the impact of international free trade commitments on domestic alcohol control policies will depend on how this policy sector is organized and operates. Alcohol control policies are more likely to survive in an international free trade context if they are tightly integrated around the health and social policy objectives they are intended to promote and protect. This implies that attempts should be made to achieve a clearer divorce of public health and social policy objectives related to alcohol on the one hand, and from trade and commercial objectives on the other.