🚨 8 techniques used by industries to hinder prevention (and how to spot them)
🔍💡 Commercial determinants of health: a Scottish report describes 8 tactics used by the alcohol, tobacco, and junk food industries to slow down prevention. 🧭 A useful framework for choosing partners and spotting 'educational' programmes that are not neutral.
📌 A free 'educational' programme offered to a college, a sponsor for the football club, a 'responsible' partner for a local action: this report helps to recognise when an offer primarily serves the interests of an alcohol, tobacco, or junk food industry. It describes 8 concrete tactics, with verifiable examples. Even though it speaks about Scotland, the mechanisms are the same in France. It can be used to choose partners, form a team, or argue with an elected official.
Source :
📒 Health Under Influence: The Industry Strategy Behind Preventable Health Harms in Scotland
✍️ Health Under Influence: The Industry Playbook Behind Scotland’s Preventable Health Harms - NCD Alliance Scotland (coalition of 26 health organisations established in 2020; report published on the British Heart Foundation Scotland website, a member of the coalition). Foreword by David McColgan, chair. Case studies written by Punyja Singh (alcohol) and Maura Francisco (HFSS), master's students at the University of Stirling.
1️⃣ Analytical summary
Scotland : avoidable diseases and slowly advancing policies
In Scotland, non-communicable diseases (heart, cancer, diabetes, lungs…) cause around 55,000 deaths per year, accounting for 88% of deaths (p. 6, 9). The country has the lowest life expectancy in Western Europe (p. 7). Around 9,000 deaths could be prevented each year through public health actions (p. 9). The social disparities are significant: 25 years of healthy life lost in the poorest areas (p. 9). The report targets large companies whose revenue depends on harmful products: alcohol, tobacco and vaping, fatty, sugary, salty foods (p. 7-8). It does not target small businesses. According to a survey commissioned by the coalition, 70% of Scots view the influence of these industries as negative, and 2% trust them on health decisions (p. 9).
Eight tactics, two case studies, four recommendations
The report classifies the strategies of industries into 8 tactics, each illustrated by Scottish examples (p. 10-18). Examples: challenging the evidence, funding research, funding school programmes, going through associations or federations of traders, threatening lawsuits. Two case studies show how the regulation of alcohol marketing was delayed for four years (p. 21), and how the rules on food promotions were weakened between 2017 and 2024 (p. 22-23). It concludes with 4 recommendations: recognising conflicts of interest, framing contacts with these industries based on the model of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control, working with partners without conflicts of interest, defending prevention policies (p. 24-25).
2️⃣ Key points of the document
1️⃣ A grid of 8 tactics
Challenging the evidence, presenting themselves as "part of the solution", directing research, shifting the blame onto the individual, delaying laws, engaging in sponsorship (CSR), going through third parties, offering invitations and gifts to elected officials. The grid draws on the English report "Killer Tactics" (2024) (p. 4, 10-18).
2️⃣ The "educational" programmes funded by the industry pose problems
The Smashed school programme, funded by Diageo, runs in Scottish colleges and high schools without being commissioned by the health authorities. Studies show that this type of programme minimises links to cancer and promotes "responsible consumption" (p. 14).
3️⃣ Poorly evaluated local partnerships
The Community Alcohol Partnerships, funded by the alcohol industry, bring together police, schools, communities, and retailers. Of the 88 partnerships studied, only 3 had a good level evaluation (p. 16).
4️⃣ Delay as a strategy
The minimum price for alcohol, voted in 2012, was only implemented in 2018 after legal challenges. Evaluated since, it has reduced consumption and deaths, especially among the most disadvantaged (p. 15). The same mechanism applies to alcohol marketing, still not regulated in 2026 (p. 21).
5️⃣ Weakened measures over consultations
On the promotions of fatty, sugary, salty foods, restrictions on “meal deals,” temporary promotional prices, and out-of-home catering were removed between 2017 and 2024 (p. 22-23). The authors specify that their analysis does not prove a direct cause-and-effect link (p. 22).
3️⃣ Action points for local actors
1️⃣ Check who funds a programme before hosting it
Before accepting a “turnkey” intervention (school, sports club, student night), ask who funds it and who designed it. Rely on the Smashed example (p. 14) and the content criteria described: the place of cancer, the message “responsible consumption,” the role of advertising.
2️⃣ Establish a written rule on partnerships
Draft a short internal charter: no funding or co-construction with the alcohol, tobacco, or unhealthy food industries, nor with the structures they fund. Draw inspiration from Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control cited p. 24. Unmet need: the report does not provide a charter model.
3️⃣ Train teams to identify the 8 tactics
Use pages 11 to 18 as training material: one tactic = one example = one question to ask. Adapt the examples to the French context (Evin law, tobacco prevention, food marketing towards children). Necessary adaptation: the report contains no French examples.
4️⃣ Identify the intermediate "messengers"
When a federation of traders, an "independent" association, or an information site takes a stand against a health measure, look for its funding sources (p. 17). The example of Drinkaware (more than 130 funders in the sector) shows that "independent" does not mean without conflicts of interest.
5️⃣ Prepare economic arguments for elected officials
In response to the argument "this measure will kill jobs", use pages 8 and 25: money not spent on alcohol or junk food is redirected to other purchases, and a healthy population works longer. Useful for meetings with local elected officials or local health councils.
6️⃣ Act on urban planning around schools
The report shows that fast food chains contest refusals of establishment near schools (p. 15). At the local level, this issue can be raised in health and urban planning bodies, by preparing a solid argument. Unmet need: the report does not describe a method to do this.
4️⃣ Additional references
Internal — Health Practices
- Reverse the balance of power against industry narratives: a health communication manual to promote health - https://www.pratiquesensante.com/blog/pratiques-15/inverser-le-rapport-de-force-face-aux-discours-de-l-industrie-un-manuel-de-communication-en-sante-pour-promouvoir-la-sante-6182
- Alcohol marketing: regulation and exposure of young people in France (CIPPAL-ADAM Study) - https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/blog/pratiques-15/marketing-de-l-alcool-regulation-et-exposition-des-jeunes-en-france-etude-cippal-adam-5876
- Regulation of audiovisual and digital marketing of alcohol in six European countries - https://www.pratiquesensante.com/blog/politiques-10/reglementation-du-marketing-audiovisuel-et-numerique-de-l-alcool-dans-six-pays-europeens-5501
External — publications 2025
1️⃣ EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) — Opinion “The commercial determinants of health”, INT/1080, adopted on 18 September 2025
Rapporteur : Alain Coheur. Calls for a preventive approach based on human rights, for a European observatory on commercial determinants and for transparency in industries. Provides the European framework, in French. eesc.europa.eu
2️⃣ Gallopel-Morvan K., Aurouet P. — “Tobacco, alcohol and public health: when commercial interests block prevention”, The Addictions Courier, vol. XXVII, no. 1, March 2025
French equivalent of the Scottish report: how the tobacco and alcohol industries hinder prevention in France. edimark.fr
3️⃣ Promotion Santé Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — Webinar Month without tobacco “Marketing and lobbying of the tobacco industry: how to fight back? ”, November 2025
Downloadable presentation support, practice-oriented, for prevention stakeholders. promotion-sante-ara.org
⚠️ URL to check — the Promotion Santé ARA page is indexed by search engines but denies automated access. Check the link manually.
To go further (end of 2024): WHO Europe, Alcohol Policy Playbook, 8 November 2024 — evidence-based responses to arguments from the alcohol industry (in English, multilingual summary). who.int/europe
5️⃣ Frequently asked questions
1️⃣ What are the “commercial determinants of health”?
These are the ways in which companies influence health: products, prices, advertising, lobbying. The report reiterates the definition from The Lancet and the WHO (p. 7).
2️⃣ Does the report target all companies?
No. It acknowledges that most companies contribute positively to the economy. It targets large groups whose profits depend on harmful products, and proposes to help small businesses turn away from them (p. 7).
3️⃣ Can a prevention programme funded by an industry be useful?
The report responds critically. School programmes linked to the alcohol industry present risks selectively, especially regarding cancer (p. 14). Local partnerships funded by the sector are poorly evaluated (p. 16).
4️⃣ Why is the minimum price of alcohol an important example?
Passed in 2012, it was blocked for six years by industry appeals. Implemented since 2018, it has reduced consumption and deaths, especially in disadvantaged areas (p. 15).
5️⃣ Do public health measures destroy jobs?
The report argues that they do not, at the level of the economy: money is redirected to other expenditures, and a healthier population is more productive (p. 8, 25).
6️⃣ What does the report recommend to policymakers?
Four things: recognise conflicts of interest, regulate contacts with these industries as with tobacco (article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention), work with partners without conflicts of interest, support prevention policies (p. 24-25).
7️⃣ Do case studies prove that the industry has changed the law?
No. The authors clearly state that their analysis does not demonstrate a direct cause and effect link. They present arguments that recur and are then found in the final text (p. 22).
6️⃣ Rewriting in Easy Read
What is this document about?
This document comes from Scotland.
It sis written by a group of 26 health associations.
It talks about alcohol, tobacco and junk food.
Junk food is food that is too fatty, too sugary or too salty.
These products make many people ill.
In Scotland, these diseases cause almost 9 out of 10 deaths.
Poor people are more often ill.
What are big companies doing?
Some big companies sell these products.
They want to keep selling a lot.
So they try to slow down the laws that protect health.
The document describes 8 ways of doing this.
For example, they say that the studies are false.
They paid for programmes in schools.
They paid associations to speak on their behalf.
They go to court to delay the laws.
They invite elected officials to parties.
Two examples
One law sets a minimum price for alcohol.
This law waited 6 years because of lawsuits.
Today, people drink less and die less.
Another law limits promotions on junk food.
Companies have obtained a weaker law.
What the document asks for
Elected officials must see these methods.
They must limit their meetings with these companies.
They must work with independent experts.
They must vote on laws to protect health.
7️⃣ Cross-sectional analysis — values of Health Practices
Literacy : The report, written for elected officials, does not provide a tool suitable for varied reading levels; it instead denounces the industry's information tools that omit health information (p. 17).
Empowerment : The people concerned are not involved in the design; their voice comes only through an opinion poll (p. 9).
Participation : No co-construction mechanism is described; the report shows instead how coordinated template responses (585) distorted a public consultation (p. 21).
Community health: The collective dimension is present: the harms affect families and communities, not just the individual who consumes (p. 7, 9).
Ethics : The conflict of interest is at the heart of the document (p. 24); the biases of its own activist position are not discussed.
Human rights: Equity is highlighted: a gap of 25 years of healthy life and minimum price benefits are stronger for the most disadvantaged (p. 9, 15).
Intersectorality : The report calls for the involvement of public health experts, academics, clinicians, and associations without conflicts of interest (p. 25); urban planning and education are highlighted through examples (p. 14-15).
Partnership : No formal collaboration model; the only framework mentioned is Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (p. 24).
Fight against discrimination: Social inequalities are addressed; the document critiques the ‘individual responsibility’ discourse, which can stigmatise people (p. 10, 14). Gender, disability, or origin are not covered.
8️⃣ Assessment of the reliability of the resource
Scientific relevance
Strengths : 120 references, including many peer-reviewed publications (Addiction, PLOS ONE, Health Promotion International, BMJ) and recent institutional sources (Public Health Scotland 2025, National Records of Scotland 2025, WHO Europe 2024) (p. 27-38).
Limitations : advocacy document, without a method for selecting examples. Some examples are outdated (tobacco 2005, AG Barr 2016) or taken from press and corporate websites. The figure ‘nearly 50% of avoidable premature deaths’ (p. 19) has no reference on the page. The survey is a declarative data; its method is not described in the report (ref. 27 without link). The case studies are based on work by master's students (internship report cited ref. 106), with no peer-reviewed publication mentioned. A few typos in the references (ref. 97 ‘Herland’).
⚠️ External data to the report — the sample size of the survey (2,194 adults) is included in the launch statement (ASH Scotland, 15/09/2026), not in the report.
Operational relevance
Average for the French field. The grid of 8 tactics is directly reusable in training and for choosing partners. However, the context (Scottish Parliament, Scottish laws) must be transposed, and the document offers neither tools, nor check-lists, nor facilitation methods.
Global level: reliable as a reasoned and sourced summary; to be read as an advocacy, not as a neutral evaluation.
9️⃣ Strategic hashtags
#healthpractices #CommercialDeterminantsOfHealth #Prevention #ConflictsOfInterest #HealthPolicies #AlcoholPrevention #FoodMarketing #HealthAdvocacy
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