Resources

This case study examines how Vital Strategies and partners mounted a nationwide communication campaign—using storytelling, community mobilization and strategic media engagement—to increase awareness, build public support and help sustain political will, ultimately contributing to the passage of Vietnam’s historic sugary drink tax in July 2025.

Developed by Economics for Health at Johns Hopkins University as part of the RESET Alcohol initiative, this policy note was developed for governments and advocates interested in reforming their alcohol excise taxes and seeking expert counsel on how to do this best.

Our survey found that 96% of South Africans view alcohol consumption as a national problem, with 77% calling it a major one. Most link drinking to serious harms such as road injuries (91%), violence (90%), and suicide (81%), and two-thirds have personally experienced or witnessed negative effects from alcohol.

This framework provides countries with a practical roadmap to strengthen the quality and consistency of cause-of-death data—one of the most essential inputs for health policy and planning. Developed by Vital Strategies and the Pacific Community (SPC), it outlines methods for assessing, assuring, and improving the accuracy of medical certification and ICD mortality coding.