New documentary exposes dangers of Cambodia’s unregulated beer industry
A new documentary from Laurits Nansen follows activist Kim Eng as he challenges Cambodia’s powerful beer sector and the rise of “neo-colonial alcohol capitalism” in a country where weak regulation and aggressive marketing have fuelled a dangerous boom in alcohol consumption.
Alcohol consumption in Cambodia has increased fivefold over the past two decades, with beer being the drink of choice for many.
In Cambodian Beer Dreams, the latest documentary from Danish filmmaker Laurits Nansen, the dangers of the booming and largely unregulated alcohol industry are laid stark.
The documentary, which premiered at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival CPH:DOX, focuses on Kim Eng, an activist fighting for a national alcohol law, as he stands up to the beer sector and “neo-colonial alcohol capitalism”.
The film’s press notes explain how aggressive marketing, young ‘beer girls’ and cash prize promises prompt the population to drink alcohol to excess – sometimes to the point of death.
‘Wild East’
One in 10 deaths in the country attributed to alcohol, a rate four times higher than the Western Pacific regional average, according to recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The data also revealed that more than 70% of Cambodian men and 30% of women have consumed alcohol in the past month, with women’s consumption rates, in particular, climbing sharply.
The Hollywood Reporter has dubbed the Southeast Asian country the ‘Wild East’ for local global brewers, as it has no legal drinking age, and few, rarely enforced, laws concerning alcohol. Additionally, Cambodia is the only nation in the region without a minimum legal age for buying alcohol.
Wanting to film a documentary on the dangers of alcohol, Nansen arrived in Phnom Penh with his camera in 2022 after researching the industry’s lack of regulation.
On arrival, he was surprised to find that beer had an even bigger impact than he expected, he told The Hollywood Reporter. In many areas, for instance, he found more beer commercials than street signs.
‘Not at anti-beer flim’
Nansen has personal experience with the dangers of alcohol – his father died after several years of alcohol abuse. But, rather than focus his documentary on his own story, he wanted to investigate the broader structures behind the problem.
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“It’s always about chasing the bigger story to see what drives it and how it affects ethics, morality and human behaviour.” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “When you have these two forces just driving parallel and together, alcohol and raw capitalism, it’s just so powerful. Both forces are so powerful and so wild. So, what happens when you unleash them like two wild animals?”
Research by the Royal Academy of Cambodia found that 66% of prime-time TV ads link alcohol to prizes or celeb endorsements. Importantly, 60% of these advertisements are placed near schools, while 80% of digital marketing lacks any kind of age restrictions.
And the story is bigger than Cambodia, and bigger than the beer industry too, Nansen says. Overall, his film is a warning of the way simple commodities can be weaponised to shape society.
“It’s not an anti-beer or anti-alcohol film. I like a good IPA myself. It’s more about the scale and ethics of it,” he adds
Carlsberg response
Carlsberg has defended its conduct in Cambodia, in response to the ethical questions raised about the beer industry’s practices in the country.
In a statement by João Abecasis, Executive Vice President for Carlsberg Asia, the company said it had taken several steps in recent years to promote more responsible business practices in Cambodia. Carlsberg said it ended its use of “under-the-lid” prize promotions in 2022 and that it continues to advocate for a national ban on such campaigns, which have been used to promote alcohol sales.
The brewer also said it has called for an official legal purchase age for alcohol in Cambodia. While Cambodia has no national legal drinking age, Carlsberg said it does not market alcohol to anyone under 18 and has launched responsible drinking campaigns both online and on the ground.
Carlsberg further said it has improved conditions for brand promoters by introducing higher wages, annual pay increases, parental leave, harassment reporting systems, safety training and legal assistance.
The company also said that it has reduced the use of brand promoters and wants common standards introduced across the Cambodian beer market.
Carlsberg took full control of Cambrew in 2019 and said it now holds below 10% of Cambodia’s beer market. Referring indirectly to the issues raised in Cambodian Beer Dreams, the company said stronger national regulation is needed and that it wants to help push the industry in a more ethical direction.
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