SWA chief exec questions UK alcohol proposals

The chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, David Frost, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of various proposals made recently by a group of British MPs to tackle alcohol abuse.

SWA chief executive, David Frost, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of measures to tackle alcohol abuse

On Monday, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse (APPG) published a manifesto proposing 10 measures to combat alcohol misuse.

While Frost admitted that there was much within the manifesto that the SWA could agree with – such as increased funding, better training, prioritization of brief advice interventions, and sobriety orders – he highlighted “some important facts” had been overlooked in the publication.

He noted alcohol consumption across the UK fell by almost a fifth over the last 10 years and alcohol-related deaths have also been declining since 2008 and are now at the same level as they were in 2002, before adding that alcohol-related crime has fallen by nearly a third over the same period.

“These figures are still too high, but its important to recognise they are moving in the right direction and consistently so,” Frost said.

Complex situation

He continued to argue that some of the proposed measures are “perhaps more complex than the APPG allows”, such as a recommendation for a single minister responsible for alcohol-related harm, to which Frost responded “in reality almost nowhere in government is there a single minister responsible for any single thing”.

The chief executive added the Home Office would still be responsible for tackling crime and would have an interest in the consequences of the alcohol policy, while HMRC would still remain responsible for dealing with illicit alcohol and evasion of excise duty.

On the APPG’s plans for the Government to enforce tougher alcohol marketing and sponsorship regulations, Frost stressed the industry had already proven itself responsible in its handling of self-regulation.

“Through self-regulation, the industry has shown itself to be quick and flexible in implementing changes, while doing everything the Government has asked of it,” Frost explained. “Government is always there as a back-up if the industry ever behaves irresponsibly; but since we do not there is no need to require legislative enforcement.”

Touching on the subject of health warnings on alcohol bottles, Frost explained “80% of labels already have such a health warning”.

“There is a fundamental difference between tobacco and alcohol, which is that alcohol, when consumed responsibly and in moderation, can be part of a normal healthy lifestyle,” he said.

He finished by stressing the SWA’s opposition to a minimum unit pricing of alcohol before concluding: “Although our views differ on some of the means, we agree on the ends – reducing the harm done by alcohol.”