Campbell: trade must focus to fight crackdown

Effective lobbying by the hospitality trade is needed to tackle calls for a legal crackdown on alcohol sales and 'unhealthy' food, believes Tony Blair's ex-enforcer Alastair Campbell.

The man who headed the government PR machine through most of Tony Blair's decade as Prime Minister said he does not sense the "political will" in the current government for restrictive laws on food and drink.

He added that while the smoking ban was a lobbying battle the trade "couldn't have won", there was no similar public health case for regulating sales of alcohol or food. By making its case to politicians with a clear message, the trade can have an impact on the government's approach.

Campbell was speaking at the annual Arena lecture in London, organised by the hospitality networking group.

Responding to questions from Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, and John Porter, food editor of The Publican​, Campbell advised the trade to focus on lobbying ministers rather than responding to media scare stories.

"In the case of binge-drinking, the Daily Mail isn't reflecting public opinion, it's trying to shape it," said Campbell. "My advice would be to ignore what the Mail says, even if it attacks you personally, and focus on the decision-makers."

He added that while there is "no point pretending" that teenage drinking and childhood obesity are not important social issues, the government is far from convinced by calls from the public health lobby for restrictive laws.

At The Publican Conference​ in 2006, Campbell criticised the pub trade for failing to speak with a single lobbying voice over issues such as the smoking ban.

At the Arena event, he said: "Smoking was a battle you couldn't have won, because the government had made up its mind. Food and drink are very different, and I don't sense the same political will" for restrictive laws.