Alcohol Beverages Australia’s (ABA) Alcohol Industry Contribution report, not only highlights the industry’s economic contributions, but also the value environment, social and cultural credentials it takes so seriously.
As well as highlighting the value work undertaken by DrinkWise in promoting responsible consumption, the report details important work on environmental sustainability, cultural sustainability as well as the Alcoholic Beverages Advertising Code.
The report states: “We work to promote environmental sustainability right throughout the production and delivery process. Our members have partnerships with organisations such as Landcare, the Centre for Groundwater Studies, the Australian Council of Agricultural Societies Scholarship Program, while also contributing to a range of drought relief and recycling programs.”
ABA Executive Director, Fergus Taylor, told TheShout that the association and its members take these responsibilities very seriously.
“We acknowledge our role in promoting the responsible consumption of our products and go to great lengths to ensure they’re produced, marketed, supplied and served responsibly to our customers,” Taylor said.
“We have been consistently proactive in working to reduce alcohol-related harms, and will continue to encourage governments and stakeholders to pursue targeted solutions addressing the root causes of misuse, through identification, assistance and ongoing support for those at-risk.
“By investing in the industry’s social and environmental sustainability, we can continue to grow, provide jobs for Australians and invest in and contribute to, the communities we’re part of around the country.”
In detailing the work of DrinkWise, the ABA report said: “DrinkWise’s successful parental influence campaigns have resulted in parents being more conscious of their alcohol consumption in front of their children and the latest government statistics reveal the majority of minors (81.5 percent) are now abstaining from alcohol.
“DrinkWise continues to activate its How to Drink Properly campaign that encourages young adults to drink moderately, with 40 percent of young adults who have seen the campaign drinking less on a night out.”
The report also highlighted that the beer, wine and spirits industry provides direct and indirect employment opportunities for more than 590,000 Australians. The report also details research conducted by Gillespie Economics, which found the industry contributed more than $158bn annually in direct and indirect output last year and accounted for $36bn in direct and indirect wages and income.