SDG 3.5.2_Measuring Alcohol per Capita Consumption in the Philippines
Author: Manuel Leonard F. Albis & Dannela Jann B. Galias
Abstract:
To realize the global objective of ensuring healthy lives for all, Target 3.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) centers on the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. SDG Indicator 3.5.2 aims to measure the progress of countries towards attaining this target by quantifying alcohol per capita consumption (APC) of the population aged 15 years old and above. This study explored World Health Organization (WHO) practices and country methodologies for estimating the APC, with the goal of localizing these methodologies and ultimately developing a framework for indicator measurement in the Philippines. Furthermore, three local data sources were scrutinized: 1) results from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), 2) Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Taxation Data, and 3) results of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS). Each of these datasets was reviewed to evaluate the availability of alcohol consumption data in the Philippines. Results of the review showed that globally, APC is typically measured through taxation data reported by National Statistical Offices. Locally, taxation data on alcohol can be easily extracted through the annual data on the volume of removals of alcoholic beverages collected by the BIR. Using the developed framework for the Philippines, initial estimates of alcohol consumption were calculated using this taxation data. However, additional information may still be gathered to enhance the quality of alcohol consumption estimates, such as including detailed sales prices of alcoholic beverages from FIES and collecting drinking patterns in the ENNS.
Keywords:SDG 3.5.2, alcohol consumption