Alcohol’s contribution to climate change and other environmental degradation: a call for research

Abstract

Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The production, distribution and consumption of many fast-moving consumer goods contribute substantially to climate change, principally thorough releasing greenhouse gas emissions. Here we consider just some of the ways that alcohol – already a key contributor to an array of health, social and economic burdens – exacerbates environmental harms and climate change. We explore current evidence on alcohol production as a resource and energy intensive process, contributing to significant environmental degradation through water usage and other carbon emission costs. We argue that the impacts of alcohol production on climate change have been minimally explored by researchers. Yet the extent of the unfolding catastrophe beholds us to consider all available ways to mitigate unnecessary emissions, including from products such as alcohol. We turn then to suggestions for a research agenda on this topic, including investigations of commercial determinants, inequalities and product advice to help consumers choose lower carbon options. We conclude by arguing that public health researchers already have an array of methodological expertise and experience that is well placed to produce the evidence needed to inform regulation and efforts by alcohol producers and consumers to minimise their contributions to environmental harms.