The article analyzes how 32 countries in the Americas addressed alcohol use, harms, and policy measures in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although more than half of the 54 reviewed documents mentioned alcohol—mainly under SDG 3—only six countries referred to alcohol as a cross-cutting issue. Only a small number of countries reported implementing alcohol‑control measures, and evaluation of their impact was almost entirely absent. The study concludes that alcohol’s broad developmental consequences remain significantly underrecognized across the region.
The findings reinforce FORUT’s central message: alcohol is a major development obstacle that governments consistently underestimate. The documented gaps in recognition, policy action, and evaluation highlight the need for stronger advocacy, evidence‑based alcohol policies, and accountability—core pillars of FORUT’s approach.
Recommended citation:
Pantani D., Sperkova K., & Pinsky, I. (2026). Unrecognized Catalyst to Development: The Neglected Role of Alcohol Policy in the Americas’ Sustainable Development Goal Progress. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, doi:10.15288/jsad.24-00375