The Spirits Pool Association will open the floor to engaging discussions tomorrow (October 26) at its conference entitled ‘Jamaican Producers Driving Reduction in Harmful Use of Alcohol: Informing and Inspiring Meaningful Action’.

The upcoming forum will engage select brands, and several Jamaican producers along with representatives from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) to tackle discourses surrounding the role of alcohol in health outcomes, establish a whole-society approach towards harmful drinking, and develop steps for implementing specific initiatives.

As it relates to alcohol production, Jamaica has the largest export market with $145.3 million in total
international sales, making the alcoholic beverage sector one of the most important contributors to Jamaica’s economy and a key foreign exchange earner.

IMPORTANT TO KEEP CONVERSATIONS ALIVE

Fortunately, Jamaica’s total alcohol per capita consumption is lower than the Americas region, which stands at 4.2 litres compared to the region’s eight litres. Additionally, by 2016, Jamaica’s lifetime alcohol abstainers for people 15 years and older grew to an outstanding 40.8 per cent according to the World Health Organisation’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, 2018.

Nonetheless, the Spirits Pool Association, as well as its partners, find it important to keep alive the conversations and actions towards reducing and raising awareness about harmful alcohol consumption to not only maintain but to also improve these standards.

“The Spirits Pool Association continues to support industry actions to reduce alcohol abuse that include training in responsible pouring, enforcing sponsorship protocols and implementing responsible drinking campaigns and marketing codes. Although in Jamaica the alcohol per capita consumption remains lower than regional averages, we find it important to support the government and other stakeholders in keeping these figures low and creating a responsible and safe society,” said Clement Lawrence, chairman of the Spirits Pool Association.

In tandem with the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ local campaigns that connect harmful drinking practices to several health issues, especially the development and risk of death from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the Spirits Pool Association shares the view that both producers and retailers have a role to play in supporting legislation and promoting safe drinking environments to help reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

LEADER IN THE SPIRITS SECTOR

In another dedication towards its paradigms of corporate social responsibility, one of the Caribbean’s largest exporters of wines and spirits, J Wray and Nephew, will be supporting the initiative as one of its sponsors.

J Wray and Nephew, a leader in the spirits sector, has led campaigns that remind patrons to drink responsibly, such as partying in a responsible manner with Party Proppa and making better choices with Proppa Vibes.

J Wray and Nephew said, therefore, that it was thrilled to embark on positive discussions and actionable initiatives that all parties can play a part in executing.

The Spirits Pool Association’s upcoming conference, ‘Jamaican Producers Driving Reduction in Harmful Use of Alcohol: Informing and Inspiring Meaningful Action’, will be held at The Vice-Chancellery at the University of the West Indies in Mona, St Andrew tomorrow.

The Spirits Pool Association was established in 1932 and is jointly owned by all the distilleries in Jamaica with its main objective being the promotion of the interest of Jamaican rums.