Justin, can you present yourself?
I’m Justin Kissinger, the President and CEO of the World Brewing Alliance. Throughout my career I’ve worked at the intersection of business, government and international affairs, including at Heineken and the U.S. House of Representatives. As a leader in the global beer industry, I feel really lucky to get to represent beer on a daily basis.
You are the President and CEO of the World Brewing Alliance (WBA). Can you present the WBA and what it does for the brewing sector?
The WBA is a community that includes national and regional trade associations as well as the largest brewers in the world. We represent about 70% of the world’s beer production, from large multinational conglomerates to small craft brewers. From the pages of global newspapers to the halls of the United Nations, we tell the story of beer and how it’s different from other alcohol. We highlight the place for moderate beer consumption by adults within a balanced lifestyle and the population level effects of shifting from high- to low-strength products.
Can you briefly present the structure of your keynote and the main points you will tackle?
I’m looking forward to meeting with the Brewers of Europe and discussing global alcohol policy, especially policies that differentiate between high and low strength alcohol. Evidence shows that policies that nudge consumers towards lower alcohol beverages like beer support thriving communities, strengthen economies and can improve public health outcomes at the population level. It’s vital that brewers around the world understand how differentiation works and join the call to drive these evidence-based policies.