London: The global alcohol industry is intensifying its efforts to challenge the World Health Organization’s (WHO) warnings on the health risks of alcohol consumption. Leading companies, including Heineken, Belgian brewers, and Mexican tequila producers, have lobbied governments to soften or remove stricter regulations proposed under a U.N.-backed agreement influenced by the WHO.

The WHO has emphasized that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free, citing research linking alcohol to cancer and other serious health conditions. In contrast, the alcohol industry argues that moderate drinking carries low health risks and provides social benefits, advocating for policies that distinguish between moderate and harmful consumption.

As a result of industry lobbying, certain provisions in the proposed health agreement have been weakened. Health experts have criticized these changes, warning that commercial interests are influencing global public health policies.

The battle between the alcohol industry and the WHO reflects a broader trend of resistance from industries like alcohol, tobacco, and ultra-processed foods, which have sought to block or weaken health reforms aimed at curbing non-communicable diseases.

The WHO’s “3 by 35” initiative, launched earlier this year, calls for countries to increase taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and sugary drinks by 50% over the next decade to reduce consumption and strengthen health systems. However, the alcohol industry has actively funded organizations such as the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking to counter these efforts.

In the United States, the Surgeon General has recommended cancer risk warnings on alcoholic beverages, but regulatory efforts face resistance from political forces and a powerful industry lobby.

The ongoing conflict underscores the tension between public health goals and commercial interests, highlighting the challenges of implementing global health policies in the face of strong industry opposition.