Portman Group

CAMRA disappointed as Naked Ladies complaint thrown out

11-Apr-2024 By Gary Lloyd

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is “disappointed” a complaint about the pump clip used for Twickenham Brewery’s Naked Ladies beer has not been upheld.

Complaint against BrewDog beer not upheld

15-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

A complaint against BrewDog’s Wingman beer has not been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaint Panel (ICP).

Nearly half of young people opt for low and no

03-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds regularly drinking alternatives to alcohol in the UK has increased by 13 percentage points during the past two years.

Northern Monk discontinues two beers after complaints

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Leeds-based brewer Northern Monk has discontinued two of its seasonal products after complaints against the beers were upheld by the Portman Group.

Four Tiny Rebel beers discontinued as complaints upheld

22-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Complaints against Welsh craft beer brand Tiny Rebel have been upheld by the Portman Group, resulting in the discontinuation of four of its products.

Complaint against Engine Gin upheld

27-Apr-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A complaint against Engine Organic Gin for suggestion of therapeutic qualities has been upheld by the Portman Group.

Bearded Brewery Unshaven Maiden complaints upheld

24-Apr-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Retailers have been asked to stop placing orders for the Bearded Brewery’s Unshaven Maiden cider after complaints against the products imagery were upheld.

Cornish cidermaker faces backlash over ‘offensive’ branding

23-Feb-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Cornwall-based microbrewery, the Bearded Brewery, in St Mawgan, faces having a second product branding banned by the Portman Group.

Complaint against Dead Man's Fingers not upheld

19-Jul-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A complaint by a member of the public against Dead Man’s Fingers (DMF) Super Spiced Rum and Dead Man’s Fingers Tequila Reposado was not upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaints Panel (ICP).

Multiple complaints upheld by standards watchdog

05-Jul-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Objections against multiple drinks products have been upheld by the alcohol industry's Independent Complaints Panel.

ICP conclude Babe Wine's packaging does not appeal to under 18's

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

A complaint against Babe White With Bubbles and Babe Rose With Bubbles has not been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaints Panel (ICP).

Portman Group launches new guidance for Hard Seltzer and CBD drinks

08-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Following a 10% increase in requests for advice regarding hard-seltzers and alcoholic drinks containing CBD, the Portman Group has released new guidance in those categories through a new spotlight report, 25 Years of Responsible Alcohol Regulation.

Gin company forced to change its labels

11-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The alcohol industry’s independent Complaints Panel has made a precedent changing decision to force Fok Hing Gin to change their labels.

Pubs' stories needed to help with report to Government

06-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

Pubs that have stepped up to help their local community are being urged to get involved with a report to celebrate the sector and showcase their role to Government.

Jobs round-up

Job protection update imminent, JDW and Whitbread redundancy plans, The Alchemist’s ‘Culture Shock’

24-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

As the Government prepares to address the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme's expiry, nationwide operators JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and Whitbread announced redundancy plans and the Portman Group announced the appointment of a new chair.

‘Generation congregate’ warned not to feel invincible

21-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

While new Portman Group data has found that 18 to 24-year olds are most likely to have returned to pubs since lockdown, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official has warned them not to feel ‘invincible’.

Brewery opposes branding ruling

04-Mar-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A brewery has refused to change the branding on one of its flagship beers after a watchdog decided its cartoon imagery appealed to children.

Portman Group upholds complaints for violence and sex connotations

11-Feb-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Portman Group has upheld objections about the design and naming of two wine and beer products.

Complaint against ‘Suicyder’ brand upheld

30-Oct-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Alcohol watchdog the Portman Group has upheld a complaint about a cider for its ‘direct link to suicide, alcohol and dangerous behaviour’.

How has pub marketing changed?

15-Feb-2019 By Emma Eversham

There are so many rules around advertising now, be them from the Advertising Standards Authority or the Portman Group. Here we highlight some of the defining moments in marketing and advertising and look at how regulation and legislation has changed the...

Industry support for London scheme to protect women at night

27-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Night-time economy groups have committed their support to a pledge to improve women’s safety at night in London.

Sexist branding 'could violate alcohol-marketing guidelines'

02-Mar-2018 By James Beeson

Breweries that chose to use sexist branding to advertise beer could soon be in violation of alcohol-marketing guidelines, after the Portman Group announced plans to launch a full public consultation of its code of practice.

Booze should be 'labelled like cigarettes'

26-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Alcoholic drinks should be labelled in the same way that cigarettes are, according to health charity the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

Tiny Rebel hits out at Portman Group over Cwtch design ruling

13-Dec-2017 By James Beeson

Welsh Brewery Tiny Rebel has criticised a ruling by the Independent Complaints Panel of The Portman Group, which found its cans of Cwtch to be in breach of its Code of Practice.

Safe spaces play a vital role in night-time economy

05-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

According to a new report by MAKE Associates, safe spaces play a key role in alleviating pressure on police resources and local accident and emergency departments and could return over £100m per year to the NHS.

'Diverse, multi-generational crowd’ key to thriving night time economy

12-Oct-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Alcohol alone should not be the key focus of a thriving night-time economy (NTE), a new toolkit by the Portman Group has found.

Kingsland Drinks lambasted over packaging for 'appealing to under-18s'

24-Aug-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

On-trade wine supplier Kingsland Drinks has come under fire after complainants argued one of its wine products was not clearly labelled as containing alcohol and could, therefore, appeal to children.

Tesco exec takes top job at The Portman Group

28-Apr-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Former Tesco senior executive John Timothy is to take on the top role as chief executive of The Portman Group.

Hunt for new CEO at The Portman Group continues

18-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Recruitment is ongoing for the new chief executive of The Portman Group, following the departure of Henry Ashworth.

BEER

Brewery slams 'violent and aggressive' alcohol watchdog ruling on Psycho beer

07-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The director of Eden Brewery has expressed his disappointment after the Portman Group ruled that one of its products encouraged “violent and aggressive behaviour”.

Ready to drink

Global Brands hits out at ASA's ruling on Hooch

26-Oct-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Global Brands has hit out at a ruling by the advertising watchdog to ban an ad that formed part of its Hooch #OutrageouslyRefreshing campaign.

Late night sector

Night economy important 'but needs to be safe', government states

25-Apr-2016 By Ed Bedington

The night time economy is important but it needs to be safe and that requires working in partnership, according to the Minister for Preventing Abuse, Exploitation and Crime Prevention.

Drinking guidelines to call for twice weekly alcohol abstinence

04-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

As the Government draws up new drinking guidelines, reports suggest consumption advice is set to be slashed due to health concerns.

High-strength beers fall foul of Portman Group

16-Jan-2015 By Mike Berry

The Portman Group has ruled that two producers of high-strength beer have breached alcohol responsibility rules.

Just how impartial is Alcohol Concern?

04-Nov-2014 By Robyn Black

Alcohol Concern has been vocal in its praise for new £3 wonder drug, nalmefene (also known as Selincro) by Lundbeck, which could be used to treat people with “mild” drinking problems on the NHS.

Diageo falls foul of the Portman Group code

21-Aug-2014 By Robyn Black

Diageo has fallen foul of the Portman Group code for the marketing of alcoholic drinks, a month after the Advertising Standards Authority found it in breach of its rules for posts on its Captain Morgan Facebook page.

WKD and Sh*tfaced beer among promotions slammed by Portman Group

17-Jul-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A WKD cocktail promotion, a beer produced for a grammar school, and a set of drinks with expletive-laden names have all fallen foul of the Portman Group’s code on the marketing of alcohol.

BrewDog doesn't 'give a sh*t' about Portman Group ruling

29-Apr-2014 By Robyn Black

BrewDog has reacted with characteristic outrage to the recent Portman Group ruling over its 3.8% ABV Dead Pony Club beer.

RTD brand Four Loko breaks alcohol marketing rules

28-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Licensees and retailers in the UK have been advised against placing orders for stocks of Four Loko in its current packaging after it was found to break alcohol marketing rules.

Brewer Laverstoke Park Farm slams 'vindictive' Portman Group

25-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Hampshire brewer has urged the trade to continue selling its beer, after the Portman Group has written to independent retailers asking them to stop placing orders for the company’s alcoholic products in their current packaging.

New Alcohol Sponsorship Code comes into force

30-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

The first UK-wide alcohol sponsorship code to regulate all new alcohol sponsorship agreements has come into force.

Portman Group names Martin Narey as new chair

19-Sep-2013 By Mark Wingett

Sir Martin Narey, the former chief executive of Barnardo’s and chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, has been appointed as the new chairman of alcohol responsibility body, the Portman Group.

Independent audit finds ‘overwhelming majority’ of drinks packaging is responsible

29-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

An independent audit has revealed that the vast majority of alcohol products conform to Portman Group responsibility standards.

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...

Portman Group reissues retailer bulletin over Laverstoke

18-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Portman Group has reissued a Retailer Alert Bulletin for Laverstoke Park Farm Ale and Lager which asks retailers not to place orders for these products in their current packaging after 17 May 2013.

Tesco alcohol packaging does not breach Portman Group code

10-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Portman Group has ruled that the packaging of Tesco’s ‘Everyday Value’ alcohol range does not breach alcohol responsibility rules.

It’s all just self, self, self with this Government

06-Dec-2012 By John Harrington

Self-regulation is all the rage these days. Despite the appalling acts committed by some members of my profession in recent years, David Cameron has stated his opposition to Lord Justice Leveson’s call for an independent press watchdog, enshrined in law.

Laverstoke Park Farm’s Ale and Lager breaks responsible alcohol marketing rules

29-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Hampshire brewer has breached alcohol responsibility rules for using a drawing with particular appeal to young children to market its alcoholic drinks.

Government should not use the industry as scapegoats

18-Jul-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Government should not put all the blame on the pub sector when things go wrong, a Baroness has told the House of Lords.

Alcohol producers on track to meet health information pledge under Responsibility Deal

28-Jun-2012 By Adam Pescod

Alcohol producers are on track to deliver their pledge to provide health information on 80% of alcohol labels on UK shelves by the end of December 2013, according to the Portman Group.