Portman Group opens up its complaints panel

The Portman Group, the drinks industry watchdog, is offering the opportunity for people to apply to join its Independent Complaints Panel (IPC).

The panel, which is seeking two new members, considers complaints about alcohol marketing under the Portman Group's code.

Members are usually appointed by the panel's chairman, currently Sir Richard Tilt. But in a break with tradition Tilt has thrown open the doors to the organisation and is encouraging people with drinks industry and advertising experience to apply for the available seats.

"The panel performs a vitally important role in ensuring the strict standards for alcohol marketing in the UK are upheld," Tilt said. "I am seeking applications from people with expertise, objectivity and sound judgement."

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group which provides the secretariat function for the Panel, said: "The Independent Complaints Panel is the 'jury' in our system and has a proven record of rational, consistent decision-making.

"While the appointments process has worked very well until now, I believe that advertising the vacancies is in line with the principles of openness and transparency to which we aspire in our administration of the code."

Those interested in applying to join the panel can download more details at:www.portmangroup.org.uk​

Since being launched in 1998 the Portman Group has found more than 70 alcoholic drinks products to have been in breach of its code.

Companies are not allowed to sell products that have breached the code and are required to change labels and marketing to comply with it before it can go on sale again.

Groups to have fallen foul of the code include Healey's Cyder Farm, which makes Cornish Rattler cider, and BrewDog, the Scottish brewer that has courted controversy in recent years with very high strength beers, including its 18 per cent Tokyo brand.