Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grants - Institute/Initiative Community Support

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is undergoing a period of significant socioeconomic transition, with several member countries progressing from low- and middle-income to high-income status. This transition has been accompanied by expanding commercial activities, particularly in the alcohol sector, which are increasingly shaping the region's commercial determinants of health. To mitigate these influences, many ASEAN countries have implemented public health-oriented alcohol policies aimed at preventing increases in alcohol consumption and reducing related health harms. However, how economic development affects alcohol consumption patterns, and how effective current policies are in mitigating these effects, remains largely unknown. This initiative aims to establish a regional research network to examine the impact of alcohol consumption and alcohol control policies on economic growth in ASEAN member states (Objective 1). Through this network, we will co-develop a strategic research agenda and knowledge translation products that strengthen regional collaboration and inform evidence-based policy (Objective 2). As a key outcome, we will develop a plan for a CIHR grant proposal that extends this research in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (Objective 3). By focusing on alcohol as a root cause of health inequities and by fostering equitable research partnerships, this project aligns with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)'s goal of "moving upstream" to address structural determinants of health. The findings and collaborations generated through this initiative will lay the groundwork for a larger international study aimed at reducing alcohol-related harms and improving access to prevention and care services in ASEAN countries and other comparable settings.