It is beyond doubt that the public views different industries with different perspectives or unequally. For instance, the public may attach more importance on some industries while attaching little or no importance on others. It all depends with the individual persons and their tastes for different products. Alcoholic industries are a good example of industries that the public view with different a different perspective from other industries. The government also unfairly targets these industries, for example through higher taxation as opposed to other companies. The industries rarely receive tax exemptions or government subsidies to help improve and support their operations. The public may view industries as being not equal when different aspects are focused on e.g. the purpose of the industry, the company’s operations, is it capital intensive or labor intensive, the company’s response to corporate social responsibilities etc (Peterson, 2005).
As an advocate of alcoholic industry, I believe there is a need to treat industries in an equal manner. Most industries are profit oriented and hence there exist little or no differences among industries. Alcoholic companies are essential in building and improving on the economies of many countries. These companies create employment opportunities; the government raises taxes from the companies, and the companies support different projects within the societies (Peterson, 2005). The existence of these companies is therefore vital and beneficial to the citizens and the governments. Alcoholic companies produce a wide range of products to suit the needs of different consumers. These products may include beer, spirits, and wines, which are differentiated to suit the tastes of the customers. The companies though have an obligation to protect the people, and they ensure this by offering some advice on the use of their products. For instance, they advice the distributors and sellers of their products not to sell the products to persons under a particular age. This message is also printed on their products and the companies also advice their customers on the effects of their products, e.g. they advice the customers not to operate machinery under the influence of alcohol and that excessive consumption of alcohol impairs judgment. Having provided all this information, it is, therefore, the choice of the consumer to choose the amount, and whether to partake in these products.
Capitalism refers to a system of the economy where industries, the means of production, and trade are privately owned. Capitalism plays major roles in corporate decision-making. Corporate officials in the context of capitalism act as officials of the public. These officials represent the community in the essence that they posses and exercise authority on behalf of the people. Their authority enables them to make decisions that are in continuity with the legislative planning authority and are aimed at the good of the public. Capitalism ensures that corporate executives do not make decisions based on profits alone, but rather pursue profits as a segment of the wider effort of the promotion of public good. Capitalism helps corporate executives to approach problems in ways that reflect their partnership and in collaboration with the government with an aim of promoting public good. Through capitalism, corporate executives are able to pursue profits, while at the same time paying attention to the claims of social goods other than prosperity. A good example of a social good is the advancement of knowledge to the public concerning the products by alcoholic companies (McMahon, 2013).
A company can cater for both its interests and the interests of its consumers conjointly. In order to achieve this, the company needs to develop programs that are aligned to achieve the goals or objectives of the company and at the same time cater for the interests of the consumers. For example, an alcoholic company can conduct road shows, both to market its products and make sales, and to educate the public on the dangers of excessive consumption of alcohol and its impacts on health. In this way, the company will have strived to cater for both its interests and the interests of the consumers.
References
McMahon, C. (2013). Public capitalism: The political authority of corporate executives. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Peterson, R. A. (2005). Business ethics: New challenges for business schools and corporate leaders. Armonk, NY [u.a.: Sharpe.