Drinks industry defends sponsorship

The drinks industry has defended its sponsorship of major events after a call for the government to ban brewers from sponsoring live music and sports.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), said alcohol adverts at these events are contributing to an increase in drinking amongst young people.

Carling have been sponsors of Leeds and Reading for nine years with no downside on the state of the nation as I see it​Mean Fiddler Music Group managing director Melvin Benn

Inbev, which sponsors Scotland's T in the Park concert, said many events would not go ahead without sponsorship from these companies.

Mean Fiddler Music Group managing director Melvin Benn, whose Reading and Leeds festivals are branded the Carling Weekend, told the BBC: "Carling have been sponsors of Leeds and Reading for nine years with no downside on the state of the nation as I see it."​

The Portman Group said it was satisfied with how its code of practice regulated sponsorship deals.

A spokesman said: "The code is appropriate and generally very well observed.​

"Nevertheless, it's important not to be complacent about the industry and social responsibility and we are shortly to carry out a review of the code."

The Advertising Standards Authority also said UK regulations on advertising alcohol are already very tough.

Tell us what you think about the panel's proposals. What events would be hit by a ban on alcohol sponsorship?​ - Please include the word sponsorship to indicate which story you are responding to.

Your Comments​Robert Feal-Martinez via email 15/09/2006"Yet another attempt to blame alcohol for the sins of the few. As was said in the article many vents would not take place without sponsorship. It is about time that all these self proclaimed 'do gooders' went away. The industry is struggling enough without further restrictions. What nexts, perhaps pubs having to blacked out display shelves, and 'naked pumps' afterall we don't want to encourage people to drink alcohol, do we?"

Ken Nason​ via email 15/09/2006"Here we go, get out your tambourine and join the crusade gainst the demon drink.

The disease of the 21st century seems to be the feeling that everyone has the right to dictate lifestyle to all others whilst remaining free from critisism themselves.

As many experienced people in this trade said when the road to banning smoking was started, "alcohol will be next" on the hit list of the holier than thou Joes.

First they stopped tobacco advertising, then tobacco sponsorship of sport,then............Anyone see a pattern here? If not then you must be blind or a crusader. Next will be a long list of terrible things drink do to you. Wonder how they will do the second hand drink lie?

Go away! and let people get on with THEIR lives and THEIR choices and suffer THEIR consequences. We don't need SAVING from ourselves or anyone else.