Taking Steps Toward Coherent Global Governance of Alcohol: The Challenge and Opportunity of Managing Conflict of Interest

The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is increasingly seen as offering a template for advancing effective global health governance in other spheres, notably including alcohol. In thinking about lessons that can be transferred, there simplifying tendency to overstate the FCTC's transformative impacts and, more problematically, neglect significance of evolving policies, norms, and practices collectively enabled its development. This lead underestimating extent which evolution was protracted contested, while issues need addressed prerequisites an international legal instrument alcohol are viewed only feasible after achievement. problem examined here with reference managing conflict interest unhealthy commodity industries. Although protection policymaking from tobacco industry interference under FCTC Article 5.3 has been hugely significant, it because wide-ranging developments across diverse actors at national levels. article illustrates legitimating enabling measures emergent internal within WHO, Bank's decision withdraw funding projects, steps by host governments restrict support overseas expansion transnationals, changes civil society researcher engagement actors. Recent seeking manage conflicts nutrition policy WHO levels highlight scope progress absence instrument. concludes considering implications these varying innovations future development