PM holds summit talks with trade
Gordon Brown hosted a summit meeting with the trade to discuss binge drinking and responsible marketing yesterday.
Representatives of the on and off-trades and drinks producers met the PM at the breakfast meeting. Individual companies as well as trade bodies were represented.
The meeting focused on responsible retailing and marketing as the festive period approaches.
It is the latest indication that Brown is keen to have a personal involvement in the alcohol agenda while he faces renewed pressure to take a tough line on the issue.
Binge drinking hit the headlines last week following the high-profile launch of the Alcohol Health Alliance, which is calling for a 10% hike in alcohol tax.
Last week, the PM told Parliament that he is to meet the trade about "practices in relation to the selling and marketing of drink, particularly the dangers that befall teenagers as a result of that".
He added: "I also want to meet the drinks industry to look at what it's doing in
relation to advertising and warning young people about dangers of binge drinking.
"And yes, we will look, as councils are looking, at areas where young people are congregating in numbers to drink and see what can be done about that."
Portman Group chief executive David Poley told the MA before the meeting: "We look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister on ways to address the significant public and political concern about alcohol misuse."
tesco stakes low-cost claim
Tesco has vowed to be more aggressive than ever when slashing the price of its Christmas booze.
Speaking to MA's sister paper Off Licence News, Dan Jago - who as head of beer, wine and spirits at the grocery giant is the most powerful person in the UK off-trade - said: "Deep promotional activity is even more aggressive than last year, across the board.
"It's proving to be a very competitive market and customers are getting a very good deal."
The Competition Commission cleared the supermarkets of any wrongdoing in selling alcohol below cost last month.
