Industry shows support for responsibility deal
Trade groups have pledged their commitment to responsible retailing by signing up to the government's new Public Health Responsibility Deal.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said that producers accounting for more than 90 per cent of the UK beer sales have signed up to the deal, with the group itself committing to its key pledge of responsible retailing.
As part of the deal, the BBPA will encourage more visible alcohol unit information in Britain's pubs. It will also continue its funding of initiatives of responsible drinking campaigns.
BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "Brewers and pubs have played a constructive role in this process and have signed-up to some significant changes in their operational and marketing practices that we hope will deliver real change.
She added: "Long-term change in our attitude to alcohol cannot be achieved simply through top-down regulation. Only by working together can we change the drinking culture in the UK. That is why the BBPA's membership has come to the table in such a constructive manner to ensure realistic steps are taken to benefit all of society."
Meanwhile Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, described the deal as a positive step.
"The drinks industry is committed to playing its part alongside other stakeholders in tackling alcohol misuse. We look forward to making further progress in the months ahead," he said.
And David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, said: "The government has set us challenging targets and the industry is rightly determined to play its part in helping to create a responsible drinking culture in the UK."
Key pledges in the government's plan, which was released today are:
- Calories on menus from September this year;
- Reducing salt in food so people eat 1g less per day by the end of 2012;
- Removal of artificial trans-fats by the end of this year;
- Achieving clear unit labelling on more than 80 per cent of alcohol by 2013;
- Increasing physical activity through the workplace; and
- Improving workplace health.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: Andrew Lansley said: "Public health is everyone's responsibility and there is a role for all of us, working in partnership, to tackle these challenges.
"We know that regulation is costly, can take years and is often only determined at an EU-wide level anyway. That's why we have to introduce new ways of achieving better results.
"The deals published today, demonstrate the effectiveness of our radical partnership approach to deliver more and sooner.
