New research from Amsterdam UMC reveals that the alcohol industry in the Netherlands has worked behind the scenes to block health reforms while promoting itself as a public health partner. Big Alcohol lobbyists have distorted evidence, downplayed alcohol harms, and influenced national policies such as the 2018 Prevention Agreement to exclude proven “best buy” measures like taxation and marketing standards.
This pattern mirrors broader European lobbying, where alcohol companies spent over €9 million annually to shape health policy according to their profit interests. Experts stress that true prevention requires removing industry influence and prioritising evidence-based measures to promote people’s health.
