Healthy lobby to discuss drinking habits with trade

Police and health chiefs are to meet for summit talks with trade leaders next week.

The North of England region of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has arranged the meeting to discuss how the industry and the health lobby can work closer together.

Trade figures including Lynne D'Arcy, managing director of Admiral Taverns; Peter Morris, managing director of Thwaites, and Chris Bird, regional director of Enterprise Inns are all due to attend.

The meeting will focus on the results of The Big Drink Debate - a questionnaire circulated around the region enquiring into attitudes to drinking.

Around 30,000 people gave their views on factors that influence consumption, perceived health risks, large measures, pricing and availability.

The BBPA's regional secretary for the North Lee Le Clercq said: "We have been after this meeting for over a year.

"Unfortunately the health lobby has been reluctant to engage with the hospitality sector choosing instead to push out often misinformed sound bites in print and broadcast media.

"Only through cross-table dialogue can we begin to convince them what a great industry we represent and how the vast majority of licensees operate responsibly and conscientiously.

"Beer too has been much maligned. It's not the product that's a problem; it's the minority who sadly abuse it that have to be challenged.

"We hope this will be the beginning of a new and vibrant relationship with health professionals and one in which we can work together to achieve what are largely common aims."

Public affairs directors from the Co-op and ASDA supermarkets arel also due to attend the meeting at Manchester's Midland Hotel on Tuesday (March 17).