Drinks groups ‘cannot be trusted’ in advertising

A UK charity is calling for the regulation of alcohol marketing to be completely independent of the alcohol industry, since the sector “cannot be trusted” to promote responsible drinking.

Alcohol Concern has criticised the drinks industry’s role in regulating alcohol advertising

Citing information included in the Creating Customers report, national alcohol charity Alcohol Concern has urged for the government to make the regulation of alcohol advertising statutory.

The organisation argues the alcohol industry “undermines” its own pledge to encourage the safe use of alcohol.

“Given the number of different ways the alcohol industry can now sell their products, the big question is whether the people who make more profits the more alcohol we drink are really the best people to advise us on how to use it safely and healthily,” said Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern.

“Given the obvious conflict between the alcohol industry’s need to sell more alcohol and the need to promote moderate drinking, alcohol producers should have no role in drawing up information or policy on safe drinking.”

Misell added that images that show drinking as part of an attractive lifestyle or social occasion should no longer appear in advertisements.

A report by the UK’s Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) published in May found that the majority of the UK public believes current regulations of alcohol advertising are “inadequate”.

However, the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group published a review earlier this month showing that alcohol advertising restrictions do not necessarily reduce consumption.

Last week, another report by UK and Australian universities criticised the drinks industry’s ability to influence alcohol policies around the world and hampering efforts to reduce consumption rates.

It accused the drinks industry of playing a role in policy-making to “create regulatory environments conducive to corporate interests”.

Despite these concerns, figures released earlier this year showed that alcohol consumption levels in the UK had hit a 23-year low, falling 18% compared to 10 years ago.