Drinkaware seminar tackles alcohol-related problems
Drinkaware has hosted a pan-industry seminar on how community and trade partnerships can tackle alcohol-related problems.
The seminar, on Tuesday at Wells and Young's visitor centre in Bedford, included more than 40 stakeholders from across the industry.
Among the speakers were Philip Loring of the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG), who spoke about the advantages of community alcohol partnerships.
Mike Wroc of the BII discussed the Best Bar None scheme, highlighting the importance of forming active partnerships between industry, local authorities and the police.
Representatives from Newquay stressed the need for a united approach in their presentation, entitled "Taking our town back".
Police are to enforce a "ring of steel" around the town this summer to stop under-18s bringing alcohol and causing problems across the resort. Newquay hit the headlines last summer when two teenagers died after falling from cliffs after a night out.
The role of the trade
Cath Templeton of Heineken UK and Mark Baird of Diageo discussed the role of companies in targeting alcohol-related problems in communities.
Chris Sorek, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: "Community initiatives are a powerful tool in our mission to change consumers' relationship with alcohol.
"With its educational remit, Drinkaware is in a unique position to bring stakeholders from both industry and local communities together to share previous successes, challenges and specialist knowledge and to help create initiatives that reduce the harm alcohol misuse can cause to individuals and communities.
"Our latest seminar highlighted the vast amount of positive, proactive work that is going on across the country to change the nation's drinking habits and emphasised the potential for innovation in this challenging task."
Paul Wells, executive chairman of Wells and Young's Brewing Company, said: "The minority of people who drink irresponsibly can cause enormous harm, not only to themselves but also to our industry.
"The seminar has reinforced that no single sector has all the answers to tackling alcohol-related harm, but by bringing together producers, retailers, police, local authorities and organisations like Drinkaware, all united in their commitment to reducing alcohol misuse, we can develop a far more effective, matrix approach to making communities safer places."
Two more themed seminars hosted by Drinkaware are planned for September and December.
