The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance Virtual Event 2021 will be held 12-13 October 2021, in the same week that was originally planned for GAPC 2021. While GAPC has been postponed to 2023 the GAPA Virtual Event will offer interactive sessions in different time zones. Each day there will be a session with key-note speakers which will be repeated in three iterations. Each one will be followed by a regional session with comments from a panel of regional representatives and discussion among participants.
The detailed program of the GAPA Virtual Event will be forthcoming soon.
We look forward to co-hosting a successful Global Alcohol Policy Conference in Cape Town in 2023, when we will hopefully have returned to a more normal life. Meanwhile we anticipate an interesting programme in the GAPA Virtual Event in October this year and the opportunity for regional networking to take place. The event is open for all who do not have a conflict of interest from involvement with the alcohol or tobacco industry.
Program outline (see below for local timing):
Tuesday 12 october (three hours)
| Keynote session – three iterations | Welcome – GAPA board members Session 1: Protection of alcohol policy from industry interests Alcohol industry Public Relations (CSR) and its implication for ‘engagement’ – Ms Gianna Gayle Amul Alcohol at WHO and other UN agencies – terms of engagement with industry – case of the WHO Foundation – Dr Nason Hessari Maani The role of the alcohol industry in global alcohol policy – tbc |
| Regional panels and discussion (immediately following each iteration of the keynote session) | 1A: Asia and Western Pacific region Chair: Ms Gianna Gayle Amul | 1B: Europe, Africa and Middle East Chair: Professor Isidore Obot | 1C. The Americas Chair: Professor Thomas Babor |
Wednesday 13 October (three hours):
| Keynote session – three iterations | Session 2: The three best buys Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity: update on effective interventions – preview of 3rd revised edition Overview – Professor Thomas Babor Pricing policies – Professor Bundit Sornpaisarn Availability – Professor Michael Livingston Marketing – Professor Sally Casswell |
| Regional panels and discussion (immediately following each iteration of the keynote session) | 2A: Asia and Western Pacific region Chair: Dr Lathika Athauda | 2B: Europe, Africa and Middle East Chair: Professor Charles Parry | 2C. The Americas Chair: Professor David Jernigan |
Thursday 14 October (Three hours):
| Keynote session – three iterations | Session 3: The way forward Response to cross border alcohol marketing, Professor Sally Casswell, Chair of GAPA, Massey University, New Zealand Learning from Baby milk: the importance of independent monitoring and reporting, Patti Rundall, Policy Director, Baby Milk Action and Global Advocacy Spokesperson, IBFAN The way forward – Building broader coalitions and keeping options open, Dr Thaksaphon Thamarangsi (Mek) Closing and welcome to GAPC 2023 in Cape Town, GAPC 2023 team |
| Regional panels and discussion (immediately following each iteration of the keynote session) | 3A: Asia and Western Pacific region Chair: Mr Pubudu Sumanasekara | 3B: Europe, Africa and Middle East Chair: Dr Perihan Torun | 3C. The Americas Chair: Ms Paula Johns |
Daily time schedules:
| GAPA VE working session | UTC (see link for details) | Example cities |
| Session A: South East Asia/Western Pacific region | 03:00-06:00 | New Delhi 08:30-11:30 Bangkok/Hanoi/Jakarta 10:00-13:00 Singapore/HK/Manila 11:00-14:00 Melbourne 14:00-17:00 Auckland 16:00-19:00 |
| Session B: Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and African region | 09:00-12:00 | Accra 09:00-12:00 Brazzaville 10:00-13:00 London 10:00-13:00 Cape Town 11:00-14:00 Geneva 11:00-14:00 Moscow 12:00-15:00 Dubai 13:00-16:00 Islamabad 14:00-17:00 |
| Session C: The Americas and Eastern Pacific region | 19:00-22:00 | Honolulu 09:00-12:00 San Francisco 12:00-15:00 New York 15:00-18:00 Sao Paulo 16:00-19:00 Auckland 08:00-11:00* (*= following day) |