Portman backs self regulation on labelling
Drinks watchdog the Portman Group has urged the Government to allow the industry to strengthen its self regulation policy on alcohol labelling rather than face mandatory intervention.
A consultation by the Department of Health (DoH) and the devolved administrations earlier this year asked for views on different options to improve health labelling.
Under a voluntary agreement forged by the Government in 2007, the industry agreed to putting five key pieces of information on labels — unit information, pregnancy advice, a message about responsible drinking, a logo and link for Drinkaware and the NHS recommended limits.
But in February an independent report said the drinks industry had failed to adhere to the voluntary agreement with just 15% of drinks giving consumers enough information.
The Portman Group has now collected pledges from its member companies who are prepared to voluntarily implement the key information requested by the DoH.
A spokesman for the Portman Group said: "We estimate that 81% of products should be carrying the three core elements by the end of 2012. This exceeds the targets set in the consultation. We are awaiting the Government's response with interest."
The watchdog ruled out the other options in the consultation — it said "doing nothing" would result in slow uptake of the scheme, while mandatory regulation would be "disproportionate", "burdensome" and "costly".
It has pledged to endorse the implementation of the labelling scheme in its best practice guidelines, and will advise companies on compliance, as well as monitoring the industry's progress.
Current members of the Portman Group are AB InBev, Bacardi-Brown-Forman, Beverage Brands, Carlsberg, Diageo, Heineken, Molson Coors and Pernod-Ricard.
