Portman Group gives all clear to eight products

Eight products that had been investigated by drinks watchdog the Portman Group have been told they will not have to change their packaging after all.

Earlier this year management consultancy PIPC analysed 485 drinks products to see if they complied with the group's Code of Practice on Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic drinks.

PIPC found 93 per cent of drinks were compliant but expressed concern about 32 brews.

Of those, 21 immediately changed their marketing while the other 11 vowed to defend themselves to the Independent Complaints Panel.

Eight have been cleared, one ordered to be removed from sale, one has gone out of production and a final decision will be made on the remaining product in January.

David Poley, Portman Group chief executive, said: "We have gone to great lengths to be certain that the industry's house is in order. No company should be promoting potentially harmful behaviour and every producer must stand ready to justify its marketing."

The drink to be removed is Big Beastie which the panel ruled had packaging that appealed to under 18s. Producer Inver House Distillers has agreed to take the drink from the shelves in the first quarter of next year.

The eight drinks cleared are Riptide, Punk IPA and Hop Rocker all by BrewDog; Old Tongham Tasty and Brewster's Bundle by Hogsback Brewery; Monte Alban by Constellation Spirits; Red Square Reloaded by Halewood International; and Skull Splitter by Sinclair Breweries.

For more information on the rulings click here Portman Group