Alcohol industry to ban school ads
The alcohol industry has vowed to stop advertising their brands within 100 metres of schools as part of its “Responsibility Deal” with the Government.
The move is one of a number of pledges that alcohol producers and retailers will announce on Tuesday (15 March).
Others expected include a vow to include at least unit information on 80% of all drinks labels by the end of 2013.
Public health campaigners have already criticised the agreement for not going far enough. Producers agreed with the previous Government only last year that 81% of labels would carry basic health information by 2012.
For retailers and pubs, there will also be a firm commitment to stamping out under age sales and providing alcohol content information at the point of sale.
It is thought that producers have also agreed to bolster existing self-regulatory codes on marketing and promotion. The move could be led by alcohol industry body The Portman Group, which last week announced it would be updating its code on packaging, advertising and promotion later this year.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health declined to comment.
The DoH will unveil a number of voluntary agreements with the food, drink and retail industry on Tuesday (15 March).
More than 150 companies are thought to have committed to broad pledges to encourage responsible drinking, eating and a healthy lifestyle.
Voluntary agreements with the food industry will include a promise to include calorie content on menus, reduce salt levels in food and the removal of artificial trans fats in food.
A number of brands are expected to make their own commitments. Heineken has already said that it will cut the alcoholic content of one of its brands, while Asda has promised to ban front of shop alcohol promotions by April.
