The AB InBev Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been created to reduce harmful drinking globally by identifying effective, science-based programs and policies for public-private partnerships to advance positive social and behavior change. It is established with an initial commitment from AB InBev of 150 million USD over 10 years.

The Foundation is led by a core management team and guided by a board of leading experts and practitioners. Its work will focus on four core areas: 1) supporting transparent and verifiable monitoring and evaluation of AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals, 2) guiding nine community pilots with evidence-based interventions and technical advice, 3) supporting the training of healthcare providers, and 4) advancing alcohol health literacy - specifically knowledge of strategies to avoid harmful drinking - as a strategy to reduce harmful drinking.

“Our ambition is for a healthier world, where every experience with beer is a positive one,” said AB InBev CEO, Carlos Brito. “By creating this Foundation we are demonstrating our commitment to tackling harmful drinking in a sustained, measurable, and evidence-based way.  The Foundation is a natural outgrowth of the commitments we made in our Global Smart Drinking Goals, and it reflects our belief that we can achieve more working together.”

The Foundation’s work is underway in several ways:

• Establishing local committees in pilot cities (Leuven, Belgium; Brasília, Brazil; Jiangshan, China; Zacatecas, Mexico, and Columbus, Ohio, USA) to create stronger collaboration among government, NGOs, healthcare, local research institutions, and AB InBev to develop joint approaches to local challenges.

• Providing support for the implementation of science-based programs and technical expertise through a Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which consists of experts in alcohol science, health communication, and measurement and evaluation.

• Developing a verifiable monitoring and evaluation framework to track the impact of AB InBev’s Global Smart Drinking Goals commitment.

• Supporting screening and Brief Intervention/Advice training for primary care physicians and other health care practitioners in the community pilots.

The AB InBev Foundation leadership has deep experience in public health research, programs, and policy and shares a commitment to transparency – a core Foundation value. The management team will be led by its President, Scott Ratzan, MD. Allison Goldberg, PhD, will serve as the VP of Strategy and Programs. Foundation Board members include Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, Dr. Robert Orr, and Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu. AB InBev will appoint two Foundation Board Members:  Andres Penate, AB InBev's Global Vice President, Regulatory and Public Policy, and Sabine Chalmers, AB InBev's Chief Legal Officer.  Dr. Ratzan, who has spent his career involved in public health issues, will serve ex officio on the Foundation's Board of Directors in his capacity as the inaugural President of the Foundation. The Board brings diverse perspectives, including experience in public health research, programs, policy, and partnerships and diplomacy.

“We established the Foundation because we believe the world needs bolder action against harmful drinking, and this will only happen with stronger collaboration among those working on and researching these issues,” said Foundation President Dr. Scott Ratzan. “We also firmly believe that transparency is critical in any scientific process, and so we are committed to sharing what our partners find with others. We are encouraged by the impact that we can all make together.”

Learn more about the AB InBev Foundation by visiting www.abinbevfoundation.org