Drinkaware anxious about funding
Drinkaware is in talks with the alcoholic drinks industry over its future funding after revealing it faces a £2m shortfall this year.
The independent charity, which is funded by alcohol producers and retailers, is about 40% short of its £5m target for 2009, according to charity’s chairman Derek Lewis.
Giving evidence to a committee of MPs investigating alcohol misuse today (July 2), Lewis says it is the process of reviewing its funding for 2010 and beyond which could require drinks producers to provide an “adequate” minimum investment of at least £5m a year.
“We need to ensure we have visibility of funding soon so we can start planning,” he says.
The charity relaunched on June 4 with a new logo and mission to present “the honest facts” about alcohol.
Drinkaware aims to present itself as an “evidence based organisation that helps dispel myths and present honest facts about alcohol”.
The majority of the UK’s leading drinks producers include the charity’s website address in their marketing as well as a message to enjoy alcohol responsibly.
