As the September 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) approaches, it is a timely reminder that NCDs still account for 74% of global deaths. Yet this figure alone does not capture the complexity of the challenge. NCDs are linked to a range of interrelated risk factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical activity, air pollution and harmful alcohol consumption.
Notably, there has been significant progress in some areas – especially on alcohol. According to the WHO, alcohol-related mortality has declined by more than 20% over the past decade in certain regions. This success story illustrates what is possible when effective, evidence-based policies are implemented. But let’s be clear:
- Prohibition does not work and it never has. It only drives consumption underground, straight into the hands of criminal networks peddling toxic illicit alcohol.
- Blanket restrictions backfire and punish responsible consumers while doing little to curb harmful drinking patterns.
- Africa benefits most from policies tailored to its own diverse socioeconomic realities. Effective solutions should be grounded in local needs, experiences and priorities.
Therefore, the path forward demands radical pragmatism.
The spirits sector is committed to being part of the solution. What Africa needs:
- Sensible excise systems that treat all alcohol the same and balance public health objectives with economic realities. Ensuring taxes target harmful drinking without fuelling illicit trade.
- Standard drinking guidelines that help consumers moderate their consumption.
- Strict enforcement against underage drinking through retailer training and ID verification programmes.
- Responsible consumption programmes, driven or supported by industry, have helped reduce harmful drinking patterns.
- Public-private partnerships to tackle the dangerous illicit alcohol market.
We must now scale these successes through:
- Policies targeting harmful drinking behaviours rather than entire populations
- Investment in enforcement to dismantle criminal networks profiting from illicit alcohol
- Digital innovation for traceability and responsible consumption monitoring
The path forward for Africa is clear. The 2025 meeting must move beyond tired debates. We need:
- Locally-led solutions, not imported dogma
- Smart regulation, instead of sweeping bans
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs), not ideological isolation
