Top cop must justify alcohol attack
Portman Group has asked senior cop Ken Jones to justify his claims that alcohol is being marketed to kids.
Portman also urged police to enforce laws on alcohol - rather than "blame others".
This followed Jones' vicious attack on the alcohol industry, which focused mainly on producers and cheap drinks in the off-trade.
Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, was interviewed on Radio 4 following the murder of Garry Newlove by drunken children.
He said: "Why is it we have got ourselves into a position where lager is being sold cheaper than water? Why is it we have got huge entertainment and drinks companies marketing alcohol to children?
"We've got a generation of binge-drinkers now who have become habituated to that.
"We have got to ask ourselves why we have these products developed in the way they are, why in the middle of some of the most already-struggling estates there are outlets for some of this cheap stuff?
"And why it is we continue to see products developed solely targeted at young people?
"Elements of the industry are taking their role much more seriously, but I have to say many more are not.
"We can't allow them to continue to export their negative costs on to the streets, hospitals and into the criminal justice system. It's got to stop."
He said parents and communities have a role to play as many youths get alcohol from families.
Over the counter
But he added: "Fifty per cent, our research is showing, are getting it from over the counter."
Jones said previously only a few alcoholic drinks in supermarkets were targeted at youngsters but "now we have gondolas of them".
Portman Group chief executive David Poley (pictured) said: "There are strict controls on alcohol marketing to prevent drinks companies from targeting children.
"If the police have concerns about drinks marketing they should complain to the regulatory bodies.
"We will be inviting Ken Jones to alert us to the gondolas of drinks that he claims are marketed at children.
"We will also be urging him to encourage the police to enforce the law on alcohol rather than appearing to blame others."
