Drinking culture - Hospitality

Drinkaware research praises pubs for tackling harmful alcohol consumption

11-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs and clubs that refuse access to drunks are having a positive impact in tackling the harmful side of alcohol consumption in the UK.

Industry figures defend trade over report that claims bartenders routinely serve drunks

17-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Leading industry figures have defended the pub trade against a report that has claimed that licensees routinely break a law which says they should refuse to serve people who already drunk.

Drinkers still not keeping count on alcohol consumption

12-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Government and health bodies’ attempts to persuade consumers to think about how many alcohol units they are consuming appear to be failing, with the vast majority of UK adults admitting that they don’t keep track, according to new consumer research.

Nearly half of 10-14 year olds have seen parents drunk

21-Oct-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Nearly half (46%) of all 10-14 year olds have seen their parents drunk, according to new research from alcohol education charity Drinkaware.

Think-tank calls for new approaches to tackle 'hazardous drinking'

07-Oct-2013 By Rob Willock

New and different approaches are needed to enable off-trade retailers to prevent hazardous drinking, according to a political think tank which is conducting research into the problem.

Drinkaware calls for evidence on binge drinking

17-Sep-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Drinkaware is launching a review in support of the Government’s Alcohol Strategy.

Four in ten children have seen their friends drunk on social networking sites

14-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Nearly four in ten (39%) children aged 10-17 who use social networking sites report seeing images of their friends drunk, says new research from Drinkaware.

Drinkaware sets out four priorities for 2013

07-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Drinkaware, the industry-funded alcohol awareness charity, has set out its four priorities for action in 2013 in a report on its progress last year.

Gov't shelves minimum pricing, plans to take 'tougher action' on irresponsible pubs

17-Jul-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The Government has confirmed that it will not press ahead with introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol, although it promised some action on cheap deals and said it plans to take "tougher action" on irresponsible pubs and clubs.

Portman Group and Laverstoke Park Farm: Where is the evidence?

23-Apr-2013 By Publican Sam

I used to have a high regard for the Portman Group, I say "used to" advisedly having seen this report in the Publican's Morning Advertiser on the long-running dispute between this 'august' trade body and Laverstoke Park Farm over...

Police, pre-loading and EMROs

10-Apr-2013 By Jonathan Smith

In a previous column my fellow partner James Anderson wrote a piece on “The demonisation of alcohol”, concentrating on underage drinking. I would like to consider its demonisation in terms of the levels of alcohol consumption and some of the grounds for...

Fighting the new evil of binge-drinking scare stories

09-Apr-2013 By Pete Brown

Why must we put up with this relentless tide of poorly-researched scare stories about binge drinking, asks Pete Brown.

Underage drinking and the demonisation of alcohol

13-Mar-2013 By James Anderson

I wanted to write a piece about underage drinking and I should say at the outset that these views are my own and they will be controversial, but I do believe that debate is good and vive la difference! writes James Anderson, partner.

London Borough Councils urged to limit off-licences to save pubs

11-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A Conservative member of the London Assembly Steve O’Connell has called for borough councils to adopt stringent criteria when considering the redevelopment or demolition of pubs.

Croydon pubs and clubs targeted as part of alcohol crackdown

20-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Croydon Council has launched a 12-week consultation on changes to its licensing policy, which includes proposals to introduce cumulative impact zones in 17 wards.

Fewer than one in five people support minimum pricing

29-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Fewer than one in five (19%) of people support the introduction of minimum pricing of alcohol, according to new figures from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), which today launches its campaign against the proposal.

Cumbria PCC says pubs serving underage drinkers should face 72-hour closure "shock tactic"

10-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs and clubs caught serving alcohol to underage drinkers should automatically be closed for 72 hours upon first offence as a “shock tactic”.

Greene King chief Rooney Anand speaks out over alcohol abuse

03-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand has claimed that binge drinking has become a dangerous past time, in an interview in the Daily Mail.

Minimum pricing: will damage limitation work?

19-Dec-2012 By Poppleston Allen

There has been much recent publicity concerning difficulties the UK on-trade is experiencing in competing in a marketplace where most alcohol sold is now consumed at home.

Drinkaware research shows link between drinking parents and their kids' views on alcohol

04-Dec-2012

Children of parents who drink above the Government’s unit guidelines are more likely to have ever been drunk than children of parents who are low risk drinkers (19% vs.11%) and to drink at least monthly (21% vs. 12%), reveals new research from Drinkaware.

Home Office minister expresses alcohol minimum pricing doubts

03-Dec-2012 By Mark Wingett

Prime Minister David Cameron’s plan for a minimum price of 45p a unit for alcohol suffered an embarrassing blow when it emerged that the Minister responsible for alcohol and crime prevention thinks it is wrong, unfair and won’t work, according to the...

Implications for the on-trade of the Alcohol Strategy consultation

29-Nov-2012 By Jon Collins

Jon Collins, chief executive of CGA, market analysts for the sector, takes an in-depth look at the consequences for the on-trade that yesterday’s Alcohol Strategy consultation has thrown up.

Cheap alcohol and promotions encourage binge drinking, says Alcohol Concern research

20-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Low-cost alcohol and the way it is promoted encourages young people to binge drink, according to a new study from health campaign groups Alcohol Concern and Balance.

Late-night levy and early morning restriction orders come into force

31-Oct-2012

The regulations allowing the implentation of the late-night levy and early morning restriction orders (EMROs) have come into force today (31 October) which the Government claims will help pay the nation’s estimated £11bn a year bill for alcohol-related...

NHS should be more worried about medical negligence than drinking culture

23-Oct-2012 By Paul Chase

It seems you only have to turn on your TV these days to be treated to a new tale of woe about the health consequences of alcohol. Whether it’s Alistair Campbell’s piece on middle-class alcoholism or national treasure Joan Bakewell on drinking among ‘oldies’,...

Minimum pricing is not based on good evidence, says Diageo's Mark Baird

18-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Minimum pricing is a “solution desperately searching for a problem” that is not based on good evidence, according to Diageo head of industry affairs and alcohol policy Mark Baird.

Dispersing bars aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds could tackle binge drinking

28-Aug-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Local authorities should use planning powers to encourage a “dispersal” of bars and clubs aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds to tackle binge drinking – that’s the findings of research by a social policy research charity.

Time for the drinks industry to do its own research on minimum pricing

02-Aug-2012 By Pete Brown

Minimum pricing looks likely to be introduced despite a lack of evidence to suggest that it would help eradicate problem drinking — so why doesn’t the drinks industry produce its own research?

Alcohol industry must do more to act responsibly says Health Committee Report

19-Jul-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The alcohol industry must do more to reduce alcohol harm or it “risks being seen as paying only lip service”, a group of MPs has said in a report released today.

MPs set to warn alcohol industry over binge drinking inaction

16-Jul-2012 By John Harrington

The alcohol industry is in the "last chance saloon" and should face heavier regulation if it does not take action to discourage dangerous drinking, a report by MPs will warn, claims the Sunday Telegraph.

Government to produce Impact Assessment on effect of minimum pricing

13-Jul-2012

The Government is to produce an Impact Assessment on the effect of minimum pricing on the industry and other affected parties in the coming months, Home Office minister James Brokenshire has told Parliament.

Health minister Anne Milton defends alcohol minimum pricing plans

13-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Government has defended claims that introducing an alcohol minimum price of 40p per unit is a "using a sledge hammer to crack a nut", saying that evidence shows that alcohol consumption is price sensitive.

Adults aged between 25-44 labelled Britain's 'hidden binge drinkers'

01-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Adults ages between 25 to 44 have been labelled “Britain’s hidden binge drinkers” as new statistics show that they drink more heavily and more regularly than young adults.

Drinkaware extends 'out of home' media push for 2012 'Good Times' campaign

01-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Drinkaware, the alcohol awareness charity, is extending the ‘out of home’ media push for its “Why let good times go bad?” campaign to reach people who are on a night out.

British public wants Gov't to act on supporting pubs with tax breaks

10-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The majority of the British public want the Government to do more to support pubs by granting tax breaks, a new national study of 2,000 adults has found.

New research from Drinkaware shows that children turn to parents first for alcohol

18-Apr-2012

Children claim parents are their most likely source of alcohol, according to new research published today by alcohol education charity Drinkaware.

Don’t blame licensees for bingeing menace

08-Mar-2012 By Gerry Price

The drink debate is firmly on the agenda in pubs, clubs, doctors’ surgeries and even the House of Commons bar, where it could be said that low prices encourage our stressed MPs to binge at the taxpayers’ expense.

Range of licensing reforms expected for April

08-Mar-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Government has confirmed the licensing measures that will be brought into force next month as part of the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act, which was passed last summer.

Drinkaware campaigns change drinking behaviour

28-Feb-2012 By Adam Pescod

Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware says all three of its 2011 campaigns have exceeded expectations and led to a change in drinking behaviour across its target audiences.

Cameron to take on 'scandal' of binge drinking

15-Feb-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Prime minister David Cameron will call for pubs, the drinks industry and supermarkets to do more to tackle irresponsible drinking today.

Gov't encourages low-strength drinks to tackle binge drinking

08-Feb-2012

The Government is encouraging the industry to produce low-strength alcohol in a bid to tackle the “deadly problem” of binge drinking.

Heineken sponsors 80,000 PASS training cards

06-Feb-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Heineken has sponsored the printing and distribution of 80,000 PASS training cards to raise awareness of the proof-of-age scheme to pubs across the UK.

Portman Group: Code consultation deadline in one week

24-Jan-2012

The Portman Group is calling for people to submit their final responses about changes to the Code of Practice for responsible alcohol marketing, with the consultation deadline closing on 31 January 2012.

Lansley: Minimum pricing not the answer

19-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

Minimum pricing on alcohol will not combat problem drinking in the UK, according to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Portman Group: steep drop in complaints

27-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Portman Group received just five complaints about the marketing of alcoholic products last year — the fewest since its code of practice was introduced in 1996.

Speaking with a forked tongue

04-Oct-2011

If health secretary Andrew Lansley really believes what he said at the Wine & Spirit Trade Association’s annual conference recently, then why has he not had a word with Teresa May?

Brighton Council seeks VAT rise for off-licence sales

30-Sep-2011 By Ewan Turney

Brighton & Hove City Council is the first local authority to call for the Government to set differential rates of VAT for the on and off-trades to help combat the cheap booze fuelling binge drinking.