Raising the bar on responsible practice

18th November 2005 - For Immediate Release

Raising the bar on responsible practice

Just days before new licensing laws come into force, Alcohol Concern challenges the drinks trade to raise the bar on responsible practice.

Today leading alcohol charity Alcohol Concern set out a challenge to the alcohol industry, just days before new laws allowing late-night drinking are enacted. In their new charter for action, ?Raising the bar on responsible practice: principles the alcohol industry SHOULD adhere to?, they set out 12 ways in which industry should step up their game to reduce the damage done by drinking too much.

Alcohol Concern clearly outlines the action industry needs to take, including licensees committing to comply with the law by stopping sales to people who are drunk or underage. The charity also calls for an end to irresponsible drinks promotions.

Srabani Sen, Alcohol Concern?s Chief Executive, said: ?With just days to go before the new licensing laws kick in, we are sending out a clear message to the drinks industry: it?s time to step up to the challenge. We have a real problem with binge-drinking in this country, and the alcohol industry has to play its part in changing that. We are putting forward a practical set of steps that we believe will help turn around our drinking culture, and we are challenging the industry to put them into practice.?

On Monday, Alcohol Concern will write to representatives of the drinks industry to ask them to commit to the 12 principles outlined in ?Raising the bar on responsible practice?. In the run-up to Thursday?s new licensing laws, a public commitment to a more responsible way of retailing alcohol would help to ease public concerns around the impact of the legislation.

Ms Sen added: ?We very much want to work with the drinks industry to make this happen. We are calling on the drinks trade to put our action plan into practice and seize this opportunity to really raise the bar on responsible practice.?

ENDS

Notes to editors:


· Raising the bar on responsible practice: principles the alcohol industry SHOULD adhere to contains 12 principles the drinks industry needs to adhere to in order to play their part in reducing the harm done by alcohol misuse.

1. Work in partnership with non-industry organisations to deliver gold standards of responsible practice

2. Apply these gold standards across the board

3. Set clear targets for their contribution to reducing alcohol-related harm

4. Invest in reducing alcohol-related harm

5. Co-ordinate a consistent message on sensible drinking across the whole industry

6. Take a responsible approach to television advertising

7. Stop selling illegally to people who are drunk or underage

8. Commit to an independent body to enforce the highest standards

9. Put a stop to irresponsible drinks promotions

10. Help reduce binge-drinking by changing the atmosphere in pubs, bars and clubs

11. Commit to cool-down and dispersal policies at closing time

12. Buddy up to share best practice

· The Licensing Act (2003) comes into force on Thursday November 24th 2005. It will see some pubs, bars, clubs and shops selling alcohol round-the-clock, and many opening for longer hours.

· A recent Department of Health report, Smoking, drinking and drug use amongst young people in England 2004 showed that among pupils surveyed (aged 11-15), 9 out of 10 of those who had attempted to buy alcohol illegally in pubs and bars had been able to do so, and almost three quarters of those who had tried to buy alcohol in a shop had been successful.

· The Home Office?s summer crackdown on alcohol crime hotspots found 52% of targeted on-license premises, 36% of targeted off-licenses and 48% of targeted supermarkets serving alcohol to children.

· Studies have shown that at peak times as many as 7 out of 10 admissions to A&E are related to alcohol. An average of 13 under-18s are admitted to hospital every day as a result of drinking too much.

· For all enquiries or to speak to Srabani Sen, please contact the Alcohol Concern Press Office on 020 7928 7377 or email press@alcoholconcern.org.uk. For out of hours press enquiries, please call 07866 063013.

Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse. We work to reduce the incidence and cost of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems and their families.

Date: 18 November 2005

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Raising the bar on responsible practice	Industry
18th November 2005 - For Immediate Release
Date: 18 November 2005