Management consultants to review Gov’t alcohol strategy

The Government proposes to bring in management consultants to review alcohol industry standards and best practice, as a further measure to tackle underage and binge drinking.

The consultants will be appointed by the Home Office to review existing voluntary codes, including the Portman Group’s code of practice, and possibly the alcohol advertising codes set up by Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). It will also review the effectiveness of industry standards, such as the use of sensible drinking labels.

It is understood that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will set out the plans to appoint the consultants in her “first major speech on alcohol” today (February 6). It will also outline the measures the Government is putting in place to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder.

The consultants will be appointed to draw together “existing good practice and advice into a cohesive set of standards”.

The Home Secretary is also expected to announce further details of the £10m anti-binge drinking advertising campaign. The campaign, created by Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest, targets 18 to 24 year-olds, particularly those responsible for alcohol related crime (MW October 18, 2007). Further executions are expected to target underage drinkers in danger of damaging their physical and mental health.

Smith is also expected to talk about the new police powers to confiscate alcohol from under-18 year olds.