title: The concentration of the global alcohol industry and its penetration in the African region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the penetration and expansion of the global alcohol industry into the African region, as a context for exploring the implications for public health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Source materials for this study came primarily from market research and the business press. This was supplemented by industry sources (from websites, company annual reports), World Health Organization reports and the scientific literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drinking in Africa is characterized by high rates of abstention and a high prevalence of heavy episodic consumption among those who drink. Much of the region is currently experiencing a rapid rise in consumption. Rising populations and income and the rapid pace of urbanization make Africa very attractive to the global alcohol industry, and industry leaders have identified Africa as a key area for growth. The shift from collaboration to competition in Africa among the global alcohol companies has prompted increasing alcohol production, promotion, new product development, pricing schemes and stakeholder lobbying.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beer consumption has increased across most of the continent, and global brewers view themselves as legitimate players at the alcohol policy table. Weak alcohol policy environments may be compromised further in terms of public health protections by alcohol industry opposition to effective measures such as marketing regulations, availability controls and taxation.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jernigan
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Babor
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019649:Food Industry / Q000639:trends*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Africa; alcohol; alcohol policies; globalization; multi-nationals; urbanization