Minister backs BBPA unit scheme

UK public health minister Anne Milton MP has backed a unit-awareness campaign in the on-trade.

The scheme was launched last week by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) as part of the new Public Health Responsibility Deal agreed between government and alcohol retailers, within which the BBPA pledged to promote much more visible alcohol unit information for consumers.

Posters and other materials are now available for pubs as part of the new national campaign to raise awareness among pubgoers.

Milton said: “People’s understanding and awareness of alcohol units is still patchy. If advice on alcohol is going to mean something to people we must be able to know how much we’re drinking and compare that against the guidelines.”

“We need to be able to make informed choices about how much we drink. This is why the British Beer and Pub Association campaign is important in making it easier for us all to understand how many units we’re drinking in pubs and bars. I very much welcome the leadership they have shown.”

A number of BBPA member companies will be taking up the campaign as part of their own individual commitments to the Responsibility Deal.

One such company is brewer and pub operator Marston’s, which runs a mix of tenanted and managed pubs.

The campaign is being advertised in the company magazine in January, and materials are being placed on its intranet site.

Marston’s will directly supply 116,000 beer mats, 1,160 posters, and 25,000 tent cards to pubs, ensuring the materials will be displayed to customers nationally.

The company is also supporting the campaign digitally where possible, and will feature the “lock up” image on its web page and individual pub pages where appropriate.

The newly-designed posters, tent cards and beer mats feature the slogan “how many units in your drink?”

The final designs follow research conducted with consumers and retailers in partnership with alcohol education charity Drinkaware.

According to the BBPA, the research found that pubgoers want clear information on the number of units in typical drinks in a way that presents the facts without adopting a “nannying” approach.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “As part of the government’s Responsibility Deal, these designs have been agreed with the government, and incorporate the chief medical officer’s responsible drinking guidelines.

“We should now see these campaign materials appearing in pubs up and down the country.

“It is clear that customers want to make informed choices when they are in the pub. A greater understanding of what you are drinking and how this relates to the government’s guidelines is important for us all.”

Drinkaware chief executive Chris Sorek added: “We welcome the BBPA and its members’ commitment to deliver this informative consumer-friendly guide and look forward to seeing the campaign rolled out across the UK.”