Diageo welcomes alcohol consultation
Diageo, the world's largest drinks firm, says using current laws around alcohol and wider information campaigns are the way forward for tackling misuse.
Responding to the announcement today of a government consultation on the UK's drinking culture, Diageo UK said it "welcomed" it and shared the government's concerns about alcohol harm.
The Department of Health consultation includes proposals to clamp down on happy hours, irresponsible promotions and a push to ensure customers are offered small as well as large measures.
Benet Slay, managing director of Diageo GB, said: "To really change people's attitude to alcohol, which is Diageo's goal, requires everyone, including government and the drinks industry, to work together over the long-term, rather than just targeting producers, retailers or the on-trade.
"Long-term solutions lie in enforcing existing alcohol legislation, intervention schemes for alcohol misuse and wider information campaigns on responsible drinking, including information for children on the dangers of underage drinking."
Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, echoed this view, saying: "The government's latest strategy document is simply pointing the way to higher prices for all responsible drinkers without solving the problem of alcohol misuse.
"Culture change will take time but we should start by enforcing the numerous laws we have and build on the education and information programmes acknowledged as successful by government."
Meanwhile, an independent survey of how products are labelled showed 43 per cent of products had no information at all, while only three per cent completely followed the industry's labeling scheme.
Slay added: "Diageo has previously called for mandatory labelling as we believe this is crucial if we are to avoid confusion amongst consumers."
David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, hit out at the labeling survey. "The findings of the labelling review are shockingly flawed because the authors have failed to take account of brand share," he said.
The group claims that the sample of drinks surveyed included many that sell far less than leading brands, which meant the figures were not reflective of the efforts made by drink producers.
"Under the voluntary agreement with government, the industry was given until the end of this year to adapt its labels," Poley added.
"The need for legislation should be considered then based on a proper and accurate evaluation."
