AKP Phnom Penh, February 10, 2025 -- 

The Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute (SEAPPI) and Asian Vision Institute (AVI) on Feb. 10 announced a new collaboration to better understand the current context of harmful alcohol consumption in Cambodia.

The partnership will develop a first-of-its-kind policy white paper on establishing responsible drinking guidelines in the Kingdom, said a joint news release.

The collaboration is the first project under a broader Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on policy research and dialogues in areas of mutual interest including sustainability, energy, technology, and public health, the source added.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), global data from 2010 to 2019 shows a 20 percent 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.

The situation is compounded by a lack of reliable and up-to-date data on drinking patterns, outcomes, and the prevalence of unrecorded alcohol that represents 48 percent 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 initiative marks an important step in providing a deeper understanding of the prevalence of harmful drinking in Cambodia, covering:

•           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. 

The project seeks to provide insights and recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia in support of new policies addressing alcohol misuse. These will focus on interventions that can foster an overall culture of moderation and responsible drinking in the country. 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 minimising harm. To-date, the governments of 89 countries currently provide recommendations to guide alcohol consumption and minimise risk for adult consumers, most often within the context of dietary and nutritional advice.

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

 “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,” Ed Ratcliffe, Executive Director of SEAPPI, said.

Dr Chheng Kimlong, President of AVI, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Southeast Asia Public Policy Institute at the regional level, given our shared interest on a wide range of policy issues pertaining to public health, human development, environmental security, public policy and governance, among others. 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.

The initiative comes as the alcohol industry in Cambodia takes proactive steps to promote self-regulation by introducing a Responsible Marketing Code to govern alcohol advertising, as well as support the government’s efforts to prevent people under 18 years old from accessing alcoholic beverages following legislation announced to establish a Legal Purchase Age (LPA).

By C. Nika