Westminster Social Policy Forum to host conference on future of alcohol policy
The conference has a series of top industry speakers confirmed including Portman Group chief executive Henry Ashworth – who will be the guest of honour – as well as Alcohol Concern chief Eric Appleby, Diageo's GB’s head of industry affairs and alcohol policy Mark Baird, Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief Miles Beale and British Beer and Pub Association director of public affairs David Wilson.
The conference, which is being held in central London on 25 March, will focus on what more can be done to tackle alcohol-related harm - including discussion around licensing, minimum pricing and possible alternatives - and how well health and well-being boards and Public Health England have adapted to their roles.
It will also look at the future of the Responsibility Deal, the wider role of the industry, and the possible impact on advertising and marketing in alcohol following Ofcom asking advertising bodies to review rules to limit children's exposure to television alcohol advertising.
Cobra Beer Partnership chairman Lord Bilimoria and Tracey Crouch MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse will chair the event.
The full list of speakers is:
Henry Ashworth - chief executive, Portman Group
Shane Brennan - public affairs director, Association of Convenience Stores
A senior representative from the Scottish Government
Eric Appleby - chief executive, Alcohol Concern
Mark Baird - head of industry affairs and alcohol policy, Diageo GB
Miles Beale - chief executive, Wine and Spirit Trade Association
Councillor Jack Hopkins - cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, London Borough of Lambeth
Dr James Nicholls - research manager, Alcohol Research UK
Guy Parker - chief executive, Advertising Standards Authority
Dr Caz Sayer - chair, NHS Camden Clinical Commissioning Group
Christopher Snowdon - head of lifestyle economics and research fellow, Institute of Economic Affairs
David Wilson - director of public affairs, British Beer & Pub Association
For further details visit the event website.
