Portman group responds to criticism about lack of action on cheap alcohol

The Portman Group has responded to recent criticisms against its lack of action over the cheap availability of alcohol in supermarkets, as reported by the Morning Advertiser. The Portman Group's head of communication, Michael Thompson, emphasised the need to change the drinking culture rather than concentrating on price, stating:

We need to change the drinking culture by making drunkenness socially unacceptable. Proper enforcement of alcohol laws by police, better education and a crackdown on the minority of rogue traders who serve alcohol to children should be our priorities.

We have never claimed to talk on behalf of the whole industry. We represent the major drinks producers on social responsibility.

I understand how frustrating it must be for pubs when they are being driven out of business by supermarkets. But our view remains that changing the culture through proper police enforcement of alcohol laws, better education and tackling a minority of rogue retailers should be priorities.

We are not convinced that price is the major determinant in harmful drinking. On the Continent, where alcohol is far cheaper, they don’t have the same health and social problems associated with alcohol.

The UK Government has commissioned an independent review of the link between price, promotions and harm, which is due to report in the autumn. If this does find evidence of a definite link, however, we’d want to be involved in discussions about what could and should be done.