Big Alcohol’s Tactics in Vietnam – Misleading the Public on Alcohol Taxation

In Vietnam, the alcohol industry is once again deploying manipulative tactics to sabotage a planned increase in excise taxes on alcohol. A recent article in Vietnam News highlights a warning from the Vietnam Beverage Research Institute that raising alcohol taxes could harm GDP. What the article fails to disclose is that the Vietnam Beverage Research Institute is tied to the Vietnam Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Association (VBA)—a group linked to major alcohol companies such as Heineken and Carlsberg.

This industry-backed lobbying effort is part of a global pattern where Big Alcohol exaggerates its contributions to the economy and job creation while downplaying the extensive social and economic harm caused by its products. Research shows that such claims often misrepresent the economic contributions of the industry.

The alcohol industry also argues that excise taxes are not a “sustainable revenue source” and instead proposes vague measures such as “guiding people towards responsible consumption.” This is a deliberate strategy to distract policymakers from the real issue: the need for effective alcohol policies that reduce harm. Alcohol taxation is widely recognized as the single most effective way to prevent alcohol harm, with proven benefits for public health and sustainable development. Increased taxes not only reduce consumption but also provide governments with a reliable revenue stream to fund vital public services.

Political interference, or lobbying, is Big Alcohol’s activity to eliminate or minimize any alcohol policy effort that would threaten sales and profits. The focus of this Dubious 5 strategy is the decision-makers and opinion leaders with the power to shape and decide alcohol policy decisions. Tactics of political interference are delay, derail, or even destroy alcohol policy initiatives, and to divide coalitions supporting alcohol policy initiatives. Big Alcohol is paying lobbyists and lobby front groups to interfere in public health policy making around the world.

Source:
Vietnam News, Excise Tax Increase on Alcohol May Reduce GDP, Experts Warn, available at: https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1687833/excise-tax-increase-on-alcohol-may-reduce-gdp-experts-warn.html (accessed 8 November 2024).

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