International Center for Alcohol Policies

The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) is an American based think tank which involves governments, and industry on issues connected to alcohol consumption and abuse. The ICAP claims to advocate corporate social responsibility, working in partnership with relevent stakeholders and the use of evidence based policy regarding issues concerning alcohol. ICAP provides a range of advice to policy makers on a wide range of issues including: binge drinking, drinking and driving, drinking guidelines, drunkenness, marketing, responsible advertising and promotion of alcohol, noncommercial and illicit alcohol in society, violence associated with drinking, young people's Drinking and social and educational issues. ^[1]. ICAP emphasises the importance of working in partnership with other organisations a recent example of this is their participation as members on the European Alcohol and Health Forum established in June 2007.

ICAP Research

• Alcohol Policy Survey

ICAP has "surveyed Ministers of Health, Directors General of Health Services and key policy professionals in national governments, quasi-governmental bodies and other national entities responsible for developing and implementing alcohol policy in countries around the world" ^[2]. The aim of this research was for the ICAP to identify key areas for imput in the development of policy concerning the alcohol industry. The findings help allow ICAP to assess and react to policy requirements arising from different cultures and patterns of consumption. The first Alcohol Policy Survey was conducted in 2001

• Moonshine Markets

This research explores alcohol 'black markets' in six countries, (Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania and Zambia). The ICAP claims that unrecorded and non-commercial alcohol or moonshine, accounts for 50% of global alcohol consumption. The research provides an analysis of each of the illegal alcohol including its "history, cultural significance and the legal and socioeconomic framework of its production and consumption". ^[3]

• Drinking Patterns

The focus of this project was to provide an account of patterns of alcohol consumption across cultures. Although the ICAP admit that levels of alcohol consumption is an indicator of 'harm' they emphasise the positive side of alcohol and regard these as, benefits to health, enhanced quality of life, and enjoyment. The ICAP use these findings from their Drinking Patterns project to "offer a basis for the development of sound policies that are aimed at specific populations and at reducing the potential for harm". ^[4]

Sponsors

ICAP is funded entirely by the alcohol industry. The following companies are sponsors

• Asahi Breweries LTD
• Bacardi-Martini
• Beam Global Spirits & Wine
• Brown-Forman Corporation
• Diageo PLC
• Heineken
• InBev
• Molson Coors
• Pernod Ricard
• SABMiller PLC
• Scottish & Newcastle

Staff

• Marcus Grant President
• Brett Bivans Director of Partnership Development
• Godfrey Robson Senior consultant
• S. Wilson Acuda Senior Consultant since 1996
• Keith R. Evans Consultant

Notes

1. ^ICAP Web Site IPCA About Us
2. ^ ICAP Web Site ICAP Alcohol Policy Survey
3. ^ ICAP Research Moonshine Markets
4. ^ ICAP Research Drinking Patterns
5. ^ ICAP Web Site ICPA Sponsors