Alcohol
Much of the discussion on drugs has parallels with alcohol, the difference being the alcohol is legal and largely condoned in our society. However we also have moral panics about it, although only with poor peoples drinking, in case they are not economically productive. Other groups can be demonised - the early abolitionist movement had a largely unexamined link with racism (see article below), blaming non white people for the growth and prevalence of alcohol in society.
However, alcohol is a big profitable business. Limbic capitalism’, a term coined by David Cartwright.described it thus
global industries basically encourage excessive consumption and even addiction. In fact, you could make that even stronger and say not only do they encourage it but now they’ve reached the point where they’re actually designing it.
The limbic system is the portion of the brain that deals with three key functions: emotions, memories and arousal (or stimulation). It is the part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviours we need for survival: feeding, reproduction and caring for our young. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter within the system.
Cartwright talks about how companies offer products that will produce a burst release of dopamine in a way that conditions and ultimately changes the brain and develops certain addictive behaviors, which is to say behaviors that are harmful. He talks about how the alcohol and cigarette industries deliberately targeted children, though products like alcopops and vaping. Interesting much home office research at the time warned the government that vaping would likely be take up by young people as a new trend, but the corporate lobby was powerful, and it is now a serious issue.
The alcohol industry exerts significant influence, not only in its commercial activities but also over social and political perceptions and responses to alcohol. It develops alliances, both internally through trade associations and government, but also with non-industry allies, such as think tanks. It uses corporate social responsibility programmes – not just altruistically for the social good, but as a tactical way to resist regulation and to market, increasing awareness and positive sentiment towards their product. Industry groups seek to influence research, both by funding researchers, but also by summarising and disseminating findings with their own spin on things. They also engage directly with policymakers – shaping and responding to consultations, but also through unsolicited lobbying. In certain cases, they use economic incentives, such as employment opportunities to inform and bolster such lobbying.