UNDP: Alcohol Recognized as Obstacle to Development in Asia-Pacific
A recent report by the Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership on accelerating progress in the Asia-Pacific region identifies alcohol as an obstacle to development.
The report was co-published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The thematic report identifies the elements necessary to advance inclusion, empowerment, and equality in the Asia and Pacific region.
These elements include
- rights and justice,
- norms and institutions,
- resources and capabilities, and
- participation and voice; areas where governments, development partners, and the United Nations system can work with society more effectively.
The contents include sections on:
- Understanding empowerment, inclusion and equality
- Climate action through the lens of empowerment, inclusion and equality
- Tax, inclusion, empowerment and equality
- Participation and voice: Empowerment and inclusion through civic engagement
Alcohol is addressed in the chapter on “tax, inclusion, empowerment and equality”, where alcohol harm is identified as an externality. The report identifies alcohol taxation as a mechanism which can generate revenue for governments in the region.
