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Drinking culture consultation launched

  • Last modified date:
    22 July 2008

A major consultation on England's drinking culture launched today could result in the alcohol industry’s voluntary retailing code becoming mandatory.

The DH consultation is published together with independent reviews showing that the drinks industry is not adhering to its own voluntary standards, and new evidence suggesting that alcohol is a far wider cause of damage to people's health than previously suspected.

New calculations released today put the cost of alcohol misuse to society at £17.7 billion to £25.1 billion per year, with a cost to the NHS of £2.7 billion.

The consultation proposals would mean retailers would have to:

• offer drinks in small as well as large glasses or measures

• restrict happy hours or irresponsible price based promotions

• display alcohol in off-licence premises in separate areas - no more
displays by the checkout

• give point of sale information on units etc, allowing customers to
make an informed choice

• train staff in shops and venues to recognise and refuse alcohol to
underage or drunk customers.

Manufacturers will be given until the end of the year to put the required warnings and advice on bottles and cans.If the alcohol industry does not abide, Government will move to put a mandatory scheme in place. This would require health and unit information on all drinks containers.

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