Anheuser-Busch InBev (United States)

Abstract Introduction: Illicit alcohol, produced and sold outside regulation, is a global health concern due to risks of contamination, methanol poisoning, and unsafe alcohol strength. Uganda records one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in Africa, with more than half of its production classified as illicit. Unsafe production environments, poor hygiene, and limited regulatory enforcement exacerbate public health and safety risks. Aim: This study assessed health risks and public safety concerns associated with illicit alcohol in Uganda, focusing on alcohol strength, methanol contamination, and hygiene and sanitation in production and retail settings. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed in Kampala and Arua between October and November 2024. Data was collected from 400 producers and retailers through surveys, structured observations, and laboratory analyses of alcohol content, methanol levels, and microbial contamination, supplemented with 20 key informant and in-depth interviews. Results: Findings revealed inconsistent and often under-declared alcohol strength up to 44.2%, with methanol concentrations in some spirits exceeding safe limits up to 640.59 mg/L. Opaque beers showed contamination with Staphylococcus aureus , linked to poor hygiene during handling and storage. Observation scores highlighted widespread unsanitary practices, including unsafe water source 36.7% in Arua and 63.3% in Kampala, dirty production areas 44.2% in Arua and 55.8% in Kampala, pest infestation, and lack of protective equipment. Retail environments mirrored these risks, with alcohol commonly served with dirty hands (31% in Arua and 69% in Kampala) and often stored, sold in unsafe containers/ environment. Conclusion and Recommendations: Illicit alcohol production and retail in Uganda present significant chemical, microbiological, and environmental risks, compounded by regulatory gaps and lack of awareness of ABV among producers. The unpredictability of alcohol strength, unsafe packaging, and unsanitary production environments underscore the scale of the public health threat, particularly in urban centres like Kampala. There is urgent need for strengthening regulatory oversight, including mandatory ABV testing and clear labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages. Community-based sensitization campaigns should address consumer awareness of alcohol strength and risks of illicit products. Enforcement of hygiene and sanitation standards in production and retail outlets, coupled with provision of affordable protective equipment and safe water, could mitigate contamination risks. There is need for a multi-sectoral collaboration between public health authorities, law enforcement, and community leaders is essential to reduce the public health burden of illicit alcohol.

Illicit alcohol consumption is prevalent globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where formal regulatory systems are weak or less enforced. Consumption of illicit alcohol has serious consequences, both immediate and long-term. To examine the socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with the consumption of illicit alcohol among the patrons in selected urban and peri-urban areas in Zambia. This was a cross-sectional study. Illicit alcohol consumption status, socio-demographics and behavioral factors were assessed. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Of the 416 patrons who participated, 71.2% consumed illicit alcohol (Men, 75.3% vs. women 54.7%). More than 66.8% reported needing a drink first thing in the morning, 50.2% have had problems with friends due to alcohol and 19% did indicate having visited the hospital due to a drinking problem. In multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with decreased odds of illicit alcohol consumption were females (AOR) 0.38 (95% CI: 0.20-0.73, p = 0.003), Ndola city (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.62, p = 0.002), drinking pattern of 2-3 days a month (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.53, p = 0.002) and incomes above K10,000 (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19-0.85, p = 0.017). The inability to stop drinking (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.22-6.69, p = 0.016) had an increased odds of illicit alcohol consumption. Our findings underscore the high prevalence of illicit alcohol consumption among the patrons. Addressing illicit alcohol consumption requires a multifaceted set of interventions that consider the various factors contributing to alcohol misuse, and focuses on prevention, education, support, and community engagement.

Objective The objective of this study was to compare drink driving and related road safety issues in 2 urban areas of 6 countries and develop an equation for estimating the rate of crash underreporting to the police in urban areas of countries that lack this information. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of 1 to 2 waves of surveys in pairs of matched medium-sized cities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Ohio, United States; the surveys supported evaluation of local alcohol harm reduction efforts. Data were from 2017 to 2019 except 2023 for Mexico. Mailed surveys in Ohio and household interviews elsewhere of quota samples matched to census data yielded 23,240 completed interviews. Relevant questions covered drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), DUI enforcement, and, except in South Africa, road crashes. GLM regression provided an equation for estimating police reporting rates of urban injury and no-injury crashes from a country’s purchasing-power parity–adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Results The percentage of drivers driving unlicensed was 30% in Mexico and South Africa, 15% in Brazil, 8% in China, and <1% elsewhere. Among adults who both drove and drank, self-reported urban DUI rates ranged from 12% in China to 53% in South Africa, with 4 countries between 18% and 26%. Among those reporting DUI, the percentage stopped by police for doing so was 14% in Belgium, 15% in Brazil, 25% in China, 31% in Mexico, 45% in South Africa, and only 3% in Ohio. The surveys yielded data on 380 urban crashes. Past-year crash involvement was 2% to 3% in Belgium and China and 5% to 6% elsewhere. The 10% injury rate in Ohio crashes was significantly below the 24% to 35% rates elsewhere. Injury crashes were almost universally reported except in Brazil (60% reported). Only 49% to 56% of non-injury crashes were reported, except in Ohio (73%). Perceived alcohol-involved crash rates of 18% to 19% in Belgium and Ohio were significantly lower than the 32% reported in Brazil, 41% in China, and 57% in Mexico. In the regression, GDP per capita and injury involvement were positively associated with police crash reporting. Conclusions Our equation more closely approximates urban police crash reporting rates than prior studies that assumed that they matched U.S. data. DUI enforcement is weak/ineffective in urban Ohio. With suggested adjustments, our survey questions should be usable in other international road safety and DUI studies.