Tougher laws for the drinks industry

The estimated cost to the NHS caused by alcohol has risen to £2.7 billion, and the drinks industry could be set to pay the price. A major consultation has been launched by the government assessing England’s drinking culture and the role of the drinks industry.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo declared the need for the consultation, with the Department of Health and independent reviews coming together to look into matters such as:

• Restricting happy hours and irresponsible price-based promotions, such as ‘women drink for free’ advertisements.

• Smaller glasses being served in addition to larger ones. Often, the larger glass is given with no other option made available.

• No more displays of alcohol by the checkout in off-licences, with alcohol to be displayed in separate areas.

• Better staff training in shops and venues, helping them to recognise and refuse alcohol to underage or drunk customers.

• Labels that show how many units each drink contains and what the recommended drinking levels are.

The last point is of particular concern to the government as unit labelling was recommended to the drinks industry in 1998, but the KPMG survey that was released yesterday revealed that 43% of products did not have this information at all, and just 3% were following the proposed labelling scheme in its entirety.

The KPMG review found that voluntary agreements are not being followed overall, and there was evidence of poor practice in the way alcohol is being promoted.

Cheap alcohol is also a focus. By the end of the year, Sheffield University’s review into the impact of pricing on alcohol consumption on behalf of the government will have been completed. 

The interim feedback from Sheffield University’s review contains clear UK and international evidence linking the sale of cheap alcohol to increased consumption, particularly amongst young people and heavy drinkers.

This provides stronger evidence that irresponsible retail practice fuels excess drinking and subsequent harm to health. Since the 1970s, experts have claimed that the rise in alcohol consumption is intrinsically linked to falling prices.

“The evidence from this series of reviews, and the hospital admissions data, clearly make this the right time to consult on a far tougher approach to the alcohol industry,” said Primarolo.

“The drinks industry has a vital role to play if we are to change the country’s attitudes to alcohol. Some sections of the industry are sticking to the voluntary codes while others are blatantly ignoring them. This consultation will decide whether legally binding regulations for retailers and manufacturers to promote sensible drinking are the way forward.”

Despite this stance, she dismissed suggestions that the relaxation in licensing laws had made the situation worse. One of the intentions behind this move was to curb binge-drinking practices, aiming at a more continental, café culture style of drinking for the UK.

However, this idea either wilfully ignored, or simply did not take into account the massive cultural differences between the UK and the continent. The UK’s attitude to drink, and its propensity to drink in large amounts is seen as being hardwired into the psyche of the population. This is something that The Institute of Alcohol Studies believes has been part of our culture since the time of the Vikings.

“The government’s latest strategy document is simply pointing the way to higher prices for all responsible drinkers without solving the problem of alcohol misuse,” said Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

“Culture change will take time but we should start by enforcing the numerous laws we have and build on the education and information programmes acknowledged as successful by government.”

“The drinks industry is demonstrating its commitment to change with programmes such as Challenge 21, Community Alcohol Partnerships and unit awareness campaigns,” he continued. “Let’s tackle the real reasons why some people misuse alcohol and not make the rest of us pay the price.”

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) added to these sentiments by calling for a more considered approach from the government.

“Once again we see the government turning to new legislation for all as a first resort,” said ALMR Head of Communications Kate Nicholls. “The vast majority of drinkers consume alcohol responsibly and the vast majority of pubs and bars retail alcohol responsibly. It is the irresponsible few that give the industry a bad name and we call on the government to focus on that minority. There are plenty of existing regulations and powers that could be used more effectively and the government should turn there first.”

Alexis Hercules 23/07/08