Drinks industry still acting 'irresponsibly'

21st July 2008, 12:22pm

The drinks industry has today been accused of failing to clean up its act as many venues are found to be encouraging binge drinking to boost profits.

In the report from Alcohol Concern, they found that the agreement between the government and alcohol trade associations is not safe guarding the public.

'Unequal partners: A report into the limitations of the alcohol regulatory regime' provides an insight into the way alcohol is sold in England and found:

• 10-15% licensed premises continuing to make illegal sales to the under-aged

• 43% of managed pubs have no disciplinary procedures in place for staff found to be breaking under-aged sales laws

• Happy hour deals encourage very heavy drinking despite the fact these deals should have been banned

It also criticises "the multi-layered web of laws, voluntary codes and guidelines" that now surround licensed practice for being unclear and confusing.

Specifically, the paper says of the voluntary codes governing retailers' conduct that "licensees ignore the principles set out in the codes as it suits them because there are no meaningful sanctions for those who are found to be in breach".

Commenting on the report today, Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern said: "The Drinks Industry's claim to champion responsible retailing is badly let down by the significant number of premises who persistently sell alcohol at cut prices, refuse to train their staff and allow under-age young people to buy alcohol.

"Self-regulation has clearly failed and we desperately need mandatory codes and an industry watchdog to stamp out the poor practice and the complacency that is characteristic of many of these venues. Only these measures can safeguard the public and cut down the alcohol-related violence that makes life a misery for so many."

Prof Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the Alcohol Heath Alliance said: "Despite the known harm caused by alcohol, bars and clubs continue to use ways of selling alcohol that even their own industry recognises as bad practice. Too many bars and clubs continue to put profit before their customers' health."

Rob Hayward, Chief Executive of the Beer & Pub Association commented on the report: "It totally ignores existing hard evidence from the repeated Government sting operations which have visited thousands of pubs in recent years. Those reports, while identifying some problems, have tracked consistent improvement in standards and high levels of good practice.

"With the economy in a precarious position, business under pressure and people feeling the pinch, now is not the time to be announcing a raft of new costs, regulations and restrictions on either business or individuals. The inevitable impact of such measures is to force up costs and prices and push more pubs towards penury.

"There are plenty of laws and regulations around to deal with irresponsible pubs and people. All agencies, including local government and the police should first focus on how to ensure these are enforced with greater rigour and consistency."

A copy of the report is available here.

Related Articles:

• 18 Feb 2010 - Alcohol promotions in pubs are contributing to excessive consumption
• 06 May 2009 - Women are binge drinking more

Click here to submit a comment!

david

21 February 2010 at 1:04pm

As a publican who thinks that we should have the same law as the states no drinking before 21 in public I'm fed up reading all this crap from the goverment bodies about binge drinking when they let the supermarkets sell alcohol cheaper than bottled water and can't do anything about it because the superstores are more powerful than this limp goverment. Kids don't pay £3 a pint, we all know mum gets it for them at 30p a can.

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