2001 in Retrospect unhealthy conditions. A health survey has been launched at our Bralima brewery in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the findings of which will be used as the basis for a system of health-promotion measures and facilities for all our African breweries. One element of our healthcare policy is provision for employees who are HIV-positive or have contracted Aids. In countries where employees are unable to obtain treat ment via their normal healthcare provider, such as coun tries in Africa, Heineken provides Aids management drugs for employees and their families. Alcohol and society Alcohol abuse by young people is giving cause for concern in many countries, especially in Europe and the United States. Authorities are increasingly acknowledging that a clear distinction between alcohol use and abuse is essen tial in an effective policy to curb alcohol abuse. Acceptance of this distinction will also facilitate coopera tion between government, the industry and the other organisations involved. Heineken initiates and supports-in some cases via the European trade organisation - information and education project initiatives to combat and prevent alcohol abuse. There is evidence of a shift in the pattern of consumption towards drinking mainly at weekends, which is exacerbat ing the problem of drink-driving. The industry in Europe worked hard in 2001 to export the 'Sober Bob' campaign, which had been developed in Belgium, to other European countries. The campaign encourages the practice of nam- Geographical distribution of personnel in numbers ing one member of the party as the designated driver who, wearing his or her 'Sober Bob' badge, agrees to stay 'on the wagon' for the evening. The industry has also taken other kinds of action to bring home the risks of drink- driving to the consumer. Heineken ran an international campaign addressing these risks for the first time over the Christmas period, having previously gained experience with similar campaigns in Ireland, the United States and other countries. As well as new forms of effective communication, Heineken also researches and supports new forms of edu cation and prevention. In the Netherlands, for example, we supported a 'virtual forum' project enabling young people to communicate with one another, in an interactive inter net environment, on issues relating to alcohol, tobacco and drugs. This sociopsychological approach is designed to find effective ways of influencing young people's behaviour and the health risks they take. Personnel The average number of people employed by Heineken increased from 37.857 to 40,025, due entirely to the inclu sion of Nigerian Breweries in the consolidation. Excluding acquisitions, the trend in the number of employees was downward, reflecting the action taken to boost efficiency. Central personnel policy is concerned with the recruit ment, development and retention of managers for senior international positions. The operating companies have their own policies for other staff which take account of the local labour market, regulations and practices. The adop- Western Hemisphere 839 Asia/Pacific 4,736 Netherlands 5,620 Africa/Middle East 7,237 Rest of Europe 21,593 HEINEKEN N.V. ANNUAL REPORT 2001 20

Jaarverslagen en Personeelsbladen Heineken

Jaarverslagen | 2001 | | pagina 27