Policy Research and Dialogue on Harmful Alcohol Consumption Agreed Upon By Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute and Asian Vision Institute

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Policy Research and Dialogue on Harmful Alcohol Consumption Agreed Upon By Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute and Asian Vision Institute
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Two leading think tanks, the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute (SEAPPI) and Asian Vision Institute (AVI) have signed an MoU to address harmful alcohol consumption in Cambodia and develop a first-of-its-kind policy white paper on establishing responsible drinking guidelines in the Kingdom.

As part of their collaboration, they will produce a groundbreaking policy white paper, offering guidance ahead of Cambodia’s first responsible drinking guidelines and evidence-based recommendations to the government with the findings due to be presented at a high-level policy roundtable on March 6, 2025, and mid-March targeted as the publish date. This initiative comes as Cambodia moves toward establishing a Legal Purchase Age (LPA) and industry-led responsible marketing standards. 

As part of the broader collaboration is policy research and dialogues in areas of mutual interest including sustainability, energy, technology, and public health.

Ed Ratcliffe, Executive Director of SEAPPI, said: “SEAPPI welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Asian Vision Institute, one of the most respected and insightful think tanks in the region. We are proud to announce our first collaboration, working on the first policy dialogue on this extremely important issue. The project will bring together a coalition of experts to get to the root cause of the issue of harmful alcohol consumption in Cambodia. 

“Our ambition is that we will fill crucial knowledge gaps and provide Cambodian policymakers with clear, actionable recommendations to enhance public health and safety, foster a culture of moderation and responsibility, and serve as a benchmark of excellence for the wider region," added the SEAPPI Executive Director.

Cambodian Alcohol-related Public Health Research

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global data from 2010 to 2019 shows a 20% fall in alcohol-related deaths globally, demonstrating significant progress in less than a decade. However, further efforts are needed to address alcohol-related harm in Cambodia where the prevalence of harmful drinking has increased steadily since 2010 and where road traffic-related deaths are one of the highest in the region, disproportionately affecting young adults between 20 and 29 years old.

Dr Chheng Kimlong, President of AVI commented, “Our first collaboration is a bold step forward in providing the Government with research-backed analysis and recommendations aimed at addressing harmful use of alcohol in Cambodia and improving overall public health. Understanding and addressing the social and economic implications of alcohol consumption is critical to fostering a healthier and more sustainable future for Cambodia. Our findings will serve as a catalyst for informed decision-making, ensuring that regulations and guidelines reflect Cambodia’s unique needs while aligning with global standards."

The research groups committed to cooperation, identifying an immediate opportunity to partner to explore current trends around alcohol misuse, and addressing the urgent need for alcohol-related public health research in the Kingdom as part of the agreement. With alcohol misuse on the rise and nearly half of all alcohol consumed unrecorded, this research aims to fill critical data gaps, analyse global best practices, and drive informed policy change, according to the press release.

The white policy is needed as there is a lack of reliable and up-to-date data on drinking patterns, outcomes, and the prevalence of unrecorded alcohol which represents 48% of total consumption in the country. Collecting national-level data is essential for understanding the causes and contributing factors of harmful drinking, enabling the development of effective policies and interventions. 

The topics covered will include:

  • A review of existing available data on harmful consumption trends in Cambodia, including a new national population-based survey conducted by Dr. Chandara Gnim, CEO of MM4A, who has partnered with the National Institute of Social Affairs to investigate current social trends and cultural attitudes towards alcohol consumption. 
  • An analysis of best practice policy solutions and interventions adopted by countries around the world. 
  • Practical policy recommendations to the government to reduce the societal impacts of harmful alcohol use, including national drink guidelines and educational programmes on responsible consumption.

Outcomes Will Inform Cambodia's Policies On Alcohol

The project seeks to provide insights and recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia in support of new policies addressing alcohol misuse. This includes introducing government-issued drinking guidelines on alcohol and health that can offer those choosing to drink alcohol a path to navigating health concerns and minimizing harm. 

The research is funded by the Asia Pacific International Spirits and Wine Alliance (APISWA) but independently collected and developed using recognised methodologies. This will be shared for consultation at a dialogue policy roundtable attended by a consortium of representatives from the private and public sectors on the 6th of March 2025.

This press release was supplied and modified by B2B Cambodia.

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