Alcohol Beverages Australia
A united front to drive economic stability Unity and perseverance within the liquor industry will be important to the recovering national economy, says Alcohol Beverages Australia CEO Andrew Wilsmore.
CEO Alcohol Beverages Australia
Wilsmore said FARE has morphed from a rehabilitation and
trade deals to stimulate economic growth and boost tourism
indigenous program grant provider to a shrewd research and
dollars in Australia in 2021. It believes focusing on building new
campaign machine.
stakeholder relationships and strengthening current ones will boost its chances to enact policy and economic change. ABA focused on improving the reputation of the industry in 2020 and despite the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, CEO Andrew Wilsmore believes ABA has ultimately achieved this. He said in 2021, ABA will continue in this goal and beyond: “driving innovation to move us towards a truly circular economy; traceability and providing consumers with information; and ensuring a fair workplace relations system”. “These are all areas we want to start talking about and being involved in the wider national policy debate.” ABA will start its 2021 policy campaign advocating for
“FARE and their colleagues’ ‘research’ projects are able to attract funding from State and Federal Governments and are then published uncritically in ‘peer review’ journals which their fellow travellers sit as editors and reviewers. “This is then weaponised to justify their tobacco playbook policy positions and swallowed as having legitimacy by policy makers and advisers in departments and parliamentary offices.” Wilsmore also noted that while the year hasn’t been without its difficulties in anti-alcohol activism and the Coronavirus pandemic, the industry’s resilience and collaboration throughout Australia will lead to its long-term stability. “The adage that ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ remains true.
solutions to fix policies that penalise “the vast majority who are
The establishment of ABA was visionary by those industry leaders
drinking responsibly,” including the next steps past the NHMRC
who were able to put past differences aside to create a body to
Drinking Guidelines, Pregnancy Warning labels and a number of
unify,” he said.
State Liquor Act reviews. But to do so, ABA will need to overcome the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education’s (FARE) stranglehold on Australian policy space.
“We are fortunate that this is very much part of our industry’s DNA. With well-established bodies such as DrinkWise and the ABAC Scheme that collaboration comes instinctively now. “I’ve always believed Australian drinking culture has permanently changed for the better and that even the challenges of COVID-19 and periods of self-isolation or working from home won’t be enough to change that long-term trend. “The one thing we can all do is to share the successes. While we all know the younger generation coming through is the most responsible yet, the perception from most Australians is the opposite. And it is that perception we need to correct.” There has no doubt been a negative domino effect on the on-premise industry since the start of the pandemic. However, Wilsmore believes time in isolation could be the key to boosting the consumers’ choice and looks forward to new challenges in 2021. He said: “Australians have taken the time to cook better meals and explore a wider range of drinks. Consumer and retail sales data suggests we continue to chase higher quality experiences and want our drinks to match.”
■
February 2021 | 77
ASSOCIATION
Alcohol Beverages Australia (ABA) is hoping to secure key
Andrew Wilsmore