Alcohol industry is blocking responsible drinking measures, MPs claim

The drinks industry’s “immensely powerful lobby” is keeping British political parties from taking alcohol misuse seriously, it has been claimed.

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe claims the drinks industry is actively preventing parliament from tackling alcohol misuse

Following the publication today of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APP) on Alcohol Misuse’s manifesto, Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, the group’s vice-chair, has blamed the drinks industry for keeping MPs from introducing anti-alcohol misuse measures.

“After smoking, alcohol is the second biggest preventable killer,” he said. “Not only does it cost lives but burdens the NHS and the Criminal and Justice systems and others with ever increasing costs.

“All the political parties know that but they run for cover when they are confronted by the drinks industry and its immensely powerful lobby.

“These proposals give them another chance to consider whether they really have the guts to take a different line for the country’s wellbeing in the future.”

The proposals outlined today by the APP include the introduction of cigarette-style health warnings on alcohol labels, as well as a phased ban of alcohol sponsorship and stronger advertising regulations.

Serious allegations

However the suggestion that the drinks industry is not taking alcohol misuse seriously has been criticised by the Portman Group.

Sarah Hanratty, deputy chief executive of the Portman Group, said: “The vast majority of adults in the UK enjoy alcohol responsibly, and government statistics clearly show significant declining trends in consumption, alcohol-related crime and drinking among young people over the past decade.

“The UK drinks industry has introduced an unprecedented level of voluntary actions to promote responsibility and this partnership working between government in industry is having a real impact.”

Just last month drinks producers and retailers announced a series of voluntary actions to work with the government to tackle alcohol misuse, including the introduction of good practice guidelines for the responsible retailing of alcohol in the off-trade.

At the time, Henry Ashworth, chair of the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network said: “UK drinks producers and retailers have a strong track record in delivering programmes of voluntary activity to support government in tackling anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol misuse. As responsible businesses, we are determined to play our part and have set out a whole new programme of voluntary actions in response to the challenge set by the Government.”

Hanratty added that government statistics show awareness of both alcohol unites and daily consumption guidelines are increasing.

In July, Minister for Public Health, Jane Ellison MP confirmed that industry has met its target by achieving 79.3% on its pledge to feature important health information on 80% of labels on shelf by the end of 2013.