ALCOHOL CONCERN RESPONDS TO HOME SECRETARY'S PLANS TO TACKLE UNDERAGE DRINKING

Alcohol Concern Statement

Srabani Sen, Chief Executive, said:

"We warmly welcome the Home Secretary's announcement today of the review of the drinks industry's standards of practice in the way they produce, promote and sell alcohol. Alcohol Concern applauds those drinks producers and retailers that have actively tried to cut alcohol related harm, but too many companies put the interests of profit above the need to do everything possible to minimise the potentially damaging effects of drinking too much. We hope that the Home Office review will pave the way for a genuinely constructive dialogue between Government, the industry and alcohol experts about the contribution of the drinks industry to reducing alcohol harm."

ENDS

For more information please contact Frank Soodeen at the Alcohol Concern press office on 02072640514.

Notes to editors

The Home Secretary described a package of measures to tackle alcohol related crime and disorder. They included: a major new £875,000 national crack down by police from next week to confiscate alcohol from under-18 year olds drinking in public; extra powers for police, where necessary, to make it clear that it is unacceptable for children to drink in public; wider use of Parenting Contracts where poor parenting is identified as an issue when alcohol is confiscated from underage drinkers; a new multi-million pound Government public information campaign to launch this summer setting out the dangers associated with binge drinking, and raising awareness on recommended units of intake and the dangers of regularly exceeding those levels; and an independent review of how well industry standards on responsible sales are being met across the alcohol retail industry.

Srabani Sen chaired the question and answer session after the Home Secretary's speech.

Date: 06 February 2008

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