Alcohol Policy UK

Happy hours are here again?

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has withdrawn its voluntary code on cheap drinks and happy hours following legal advice, the Morning Advertiser reports. It has been three years since the code was originally introduced, supporting the case that the industry are capable of self regulating. However there are reportedly serious concerns from within the industry given the overdue release of the KPMG report on the industry's use of voluntary codes, which will inform ministers' decision as to whether impose further laws to control the pricing and availability of alcohol.

In response to the withdrawal of the code, Mark Hastings of the BBPA said:

"We are currently taking legal advice on the status of the BBPA code.

"It's widely recognised that pubs have made enormous strides to tackle irresponsible promotions and we are confident they will continue to operate responsibly."

When asked about the timing of the withdrawal, Hastings said:

"The advice at the time was it was fine, but very recently other questions have arisen and we have to take them seriously. In the meantime, we have to withdraw [the code]."

The decision is a setback for ministers as they near the conclusion of a cross-departmental review of ways to change the drinking behaviour in Britain by tackling cut-price alcohol and drinks promotions, says the Financial Times, which reports that implementing several options favoured by ministers, including setting a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, poses significant legal challenges.

Withdrawing the industry rules on promotions compounds the legal problems facing policymakers, who were focusing on how to act against supermarkets and shops selling cheap alcohol. After the suspension of the standards, pubs and clubs will have independently to decide whether to avoid certain "irresponsible" promotions, rather than sign up to common standards.

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.

Drinkaware Trust: more changes at the top

The trade press reports that Jean Collingwood, chief executive of the Drinkaware Trust has quit after less than a year.  See off licence news and Morning Advertiser.

Meanwhile, Srabani Sen, ex Alcohol Concern chief executive keeps her place on the board of trustees, as an alcohol harm reduction field representive, despite no longer working in the field.

Drinks producer will include sensible drinking messsage

Drinks manufacturer Coors has confirmed it will be including sensible drinking message on all cans of Carling, a popular beer brand in the UK, the Off License News reports. The message will include the recommended unit consumption for men and women, and include the website of the Drinkaware Trust, the industry funded campaigning body.

This follows moves by Diageo, the international drinks retailing giant to encourage the promotion of advice for pregnant women on drinks labels. Diageo have been involved in  international discussions over information to be included on alcohol labels.

Minimum pricing for alcohol? The debate hots up..

As Government ministers consider options for setting minimum prices on alcohol, the debate is hotting up amongst the industry and public alike as to whether such a move would make any difference, or is  politically acceptable. This month the Daily Telegraph suggested that preparations to bring in minumum pricing are underway.  However it understood that minsters are still only considering such options and awaiting further reviews as to the effectiveness and impacts of such policies.

The government would be required to make an exception to the Competition Act of 1998 which would require "exceptional and compelling reasons for public policy". The Office of Fair Trading has indicated that this would be possible given the extent of alcohol realated harm in the UK and the criticism surrounding supermarkets for continuing to sell alcohol as 'loss leaders'.  Naturally the idea is not short of critics.  Rehearsing the familiar arguments against price rises, Gavin Partington of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, in an artcicle published in Off license News said:

“If pricing was an issue then why aren’t there more problems in other countries with lower taxes on alcohol?

We’ve never denied there’s a problem with alcohol abuse, but it’s a minority of people. The vast majority, who drink sensibly in the comfort of their own homes, should not be punished.”

A page on the BBC website titled Should there be a minimum price for alcohol? also attracted a large volume of comments with a wide range of views.

 

Seminar on alcohol licensing and drinking culture

A seminar entitled Alcohol Licensing: café culture or city centre chaos? takes place next month on the 7th May in Enfield to look at the debates around current licensing policy and its impact. The seminar will consider a range of research including the recently released report Implementation of the Licensing Act 2003: A National Survey which closely examines the findings of national research on the impacts of the licensing act. This follows the recent  review of the 2003 licensing act.

The National Survey report broadly supports the review in finding that there has not been a consistent impact across the country, and there has been little significant change for better or for worse. However, the National Survey provides a detailed analysis of the challenges and responses facing local authorities and the policy and cultural context of the changes, as well as providing a range of recommendations.

More details

• Middlesex University Criminology Research Centre seminar series
• Alcohol Licensing: café culture or city centre chaos? Betsy Thom, Professor of Health Policy
• Time: 4.30 - 6pm on May 7th
• Venue: Enfield Campus, Queensway, Enfield EN3 4SA; Broadbent Building, room 52

Scottish Licensing Boards plan tough stance on alcohol-related harm despite resistance from the trade

• Garages and petrol station forecourt shops across Scotland may be forced to stop selling alcohol within two years under new laws. Licensing chiefs in Glasgow are the first in the country to have signalled their intention to prevent garages selling alcohol unless the premises can prove it is the main source of fuel and groceries for the local community. The 2005 Licensing Act allows all boards across Scotland to introduce the measure and with the country's largest board formally indicating that it will be a matter of policy to refuse permission for garages to sell alcohol most others are expected to follow suit. But trade representatives have said the policy is meaningless as there is no evidence of any link between drink driving and the sale of alcohol in garages. They claim that it does little more than punish small retailers, while major supermarkets continue to sell both alcohol and petrol.  The Herald

• Scares that vertical drinking policies will be brought in under new Scottish Licensing Laws have been described as "overblown" as most pubs already include 25 per cent of their premises as seating. This is according to Patrick Browne, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, who added that licensing boards who try to implement such policies would be overstepping their powers anyway.   Reports in the Scottish media have raised concerns that plans to force pubs to provide more seating might jeopardise some of the smaller, character, venues. However, these reports are based on the notion that licensing boards might try to enforce 50 per cent seating. Browne has heard that Perth and Kinross, Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire licensing boards are looking at 25 per cent vertical drinking policies. But he argues that any such restriction could only be brought in using powers under Health and Safety or Building Regulations – and not the new licensing laws.  The Publican

Shipley ships out and the Drinkaware Trust needs a new chair and trustees

Debra Shipley has this month resigned her post as Chair of the Drinkaware Trust, apparently for personal reasons, and the Trust now seeks "an independent Chair with no professional interest in alcohol". 

Stephen Hogg, one of the original trustees has also left, presumably after moving to the other side of the divide between the industry and everyone else.  He joined as Senior Communications Officer at Centrepoint, but since April has been at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.  The Trust now seeks one Trustee from an alcohol related background and two lay Trustees.

More info here.

Competition Commission: supermarkets can continue deep discounting alcohol

Britain's big four supermarkets will be allowed to continue selling alcohol at rock-bottom prices despite complaints that they are driving pubs, corner shops and off-licences out of business.

The Competition Commission has rejected calls for it to stop chains such as Tesco and Asda from offering beer, wine and other drinks at well below their true cost in an attempt to woo customers.

A 16-month inquiry into the groceries market, led by commission chairman Peter Freeman, will rule out a ban when it publishes a report into claims that supermarkets' pricing decisions are putting smaller shops out of business.

That will be a setback for the Association of Convenience Stores, which represents 33,000 shops in England and Wales, including family firms and chains such as Spar, Londis and Costcutter. It claims that 3,000 small shops have closed since 2000 amid growing competition from supermarkets.  Observer

See also previous post Supermarket beer pricing is killing pubs for background and further information.

Regulations still failing to protect children from alcohol - Alcohol Concern

Hundreds of thousands of children are regularly exposed to drinks advertising on television, a new report by Alcohol Concern reveals.  Not In front Of the Children-Child Protection and Advertising compares the number of drinks adverts shown before and after the watershed during two weeks in December 2006 and March 2007.

Its findings include that:

• In both weeks the number of drinks adverts rose dramatically during the hours of 3pm and 5pm when children are returning from school.
• Family programmes like Coronation Street, which is allowed to carry drinks adverts attract more than a million viewers aged 4-19.  Other programmes found to be carrying drinks ads included ‘The Simpsons’, ‘Home and Away’, and ‘The X-Factor’
• There are twice as many supermarket alcohol adverts shown before the 9pm watershed than after.

Drinks ads on television are only prohibited if the number of children watching is 20% greater than the proportion of children in society. The report argues that this high threshold for television advertising violates the spirit of the child protection policies and makes it impossible for parents to accurately predict which programmes do not carry drinks adverts. The regulations are also significantly weaker than those for non-broadcast advertising.

Srabani Sen, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern said:

“Three years ago Ofcom tightened the rules in order to protect children. However, at the time they refused to even consult on a watershed ban. Our report, when coupled with the evidence on the impact of alcohol advertising on children shows that it is time to revisit this decision. In our view a watershed ban is the only way to give parents the peace of mind of knowing that their children can be kept safe from the influence of advertising.” 

Alcohol Concern is recommending a number of changes to the regulatory regime in light of the report’s findings:

• Drinks adverts should be banned between 6am and 9pm (the watershed) to ensure that the vast majority of children aren’t able to see alcohol advertising.
• In programmes which run after the watershed but are still likely to appeal to children, e.g. sporting events, alcohol adverts should not appear where more than 10% of the audience are likely to be children.
• The regulations covering scheduling need to be made clearer and the sanctions for when these are contravened should be publicly promoted.
• Broadcast and non broadcast codes should be brought into line with a clear definition of programming likely to appear to children identified and promoted.

The alcohol industry has rejected Alcohol Concern's arguments (as reported by BBC News):

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group which represents nine drinks companies, said:

"The advertising rules, which were toughened two years ago, ban adverts from targeting or appealing to under-18s. "Shielding this age group from any images of alcohol is not helping them grow up with sensible and balanced attitudes to drinking."

Advertising Association spokesman Jonathan Collett said a pre-watershed ban would be "unnecessary and disproportionate." The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice said it was not considering a change to its alcohol codes.