Science and the drinks industry: cause for concern

EDITORIAL Science and the drinks industry: cause for concernCause for concern Call it a conspiracy to subvert science.Call it a well-meaning attempt to develop industryacademic partnerships in the interests of public health.Or call it a dangerous alliance between naive scientists and self-serving commercial interests.Whatever you call it, something unusual is happening in the field of alcohol research: scientists are becoming more actively involved in industry-sponsored initiatives, and the alcohol industry is becoming more involved in the interpretation and promotion of scientific research.Consider the following recent examples:• The Portman Group, an organization supported by alcohol producers, offered several British scientists a fee of £2000 to write anonymous critiques of a policy study' then being released by the World Health Organization (WHO)^.The study, authored by 17 scientists pro bono, reviews international efforts to manage alcohol problems based on current scientific evidence.• The Alcohol Research Group in the University of Edinburgh receives its core fianding to support senior staff positions from the Portman Group and previously received funding from Scotch whisky sources.Core funds are provided without restrictions.In California, another research center is supported by a major wine producer to study the genetics of alcoholism.• Gene Ford Publications, Inc. launched a new format for the 8-year-old Moderation Reader, a magazine which is not only sympathetic to the alcohol beverage industry, but is also