Brown calls for alcohol industry review

The Government is set to review the alcohol industry’s social responsibility measures to counter under-age and binge drinking, said the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a summit held today (November 21) at Number 10.

Brown (pictured) met drinks retailers, manufacturers, doctors and academics to discuss ways of reducing excessive drinking.

The Government is planning a white paper on the steps taken by the alcohol industry to reduce alcohol harm, since the Government first launched its alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2004. It is also proposing to legislate against under-18 year olds found in the possession of alcohol in public places.

Drinks manufactuers told the summit that they were determined to prove that marketing and communications activities are not encouraging harmful drinking. Lobby groups such as Alcohol Concern have called for a 9pm watershed ban on all alcohol advertising.

The summit discussed how the alcohol manufacturers and retailers could get together with the consumer groups t explore how best to combat the problem of excessive drinking, in particular under-age drinking.

The summit was also attended by the Home Office minister Vernon Croaker, Dawn Primarolo, the minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health, and Culture Secretary James Purnell.

David Poley, Portman group chief executive says: “There was a broad agreement that responsible drinking education and campaigning can drive further improvements in the nation’s drinking habits.”