Government threatens retailers with tougher alcohol legislation

Dawn Primarolo from the Department of Health announced the plans following a recent KPMG report, which found voluntary alcohol industry standards were being ignored.

She said: “The evidence from this series of reviews, and the hospital admissions data, clearly make this the right time to consult on a far tougher approach to the alcohol industry.

"The drinks industry has a vital role to play if we are to change the country's attitudes to alcohol. Some sections of the industry are sticking to the voluntary codes, others are blatantly ignoring them.

“This consultation will decide whether legally binding regulations for retailers and manufacturers to promote sensible drinking are the way forward.”

The consultation proposals would mean that the current voluntary retailing code could become mandatory.

Measures affecting off-trade retailers would include:

• Displaying alcohol in separate areas - no more displays by the checkout
• Giving point of sale information eg on units, allowing customers to make an informed choice
• Training staff to recognise and refuse alcohol to underage or drunk customers.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called for sensible drinking policies arguing that the strategy document does not solve the root problems of alcohol misuse.

Jeremy Beadles, WSTA chief executive, said: “The government's latest strategy document is simply pointing the way to higher prices for all responsible drinkers without solving the problem of alcohol misuse.

“Culture change will take time but we should start by enforcing the numerous laws we have and build on the education and information programmes acknowledged as successful by Government.

"The drinks industry is demonstrating its commitment to change with programmes such as Challenge 21, Community Alcohol Partnerships and unit awareness campaigns. Let's tackle the real reasons why some people misuse alcohol; not make the rest of us pay the price."

Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) chief executive James Lowman said: “Everyone should seek to play their part in changing the drinking culture. To do this, retailers must focus on the practical measures that they can take in their business that make a difference.”

He added: “Off licence retailers can contribute to changing drinking culture through running a responsible business. This includes taking part in successful industry initiatives such as Challenge 21 and No ID No Sale, and also by playing their part in local partnerships and developing community based solutions to local alcohol related problems.

“We will consider the consultation proposals in detail and aim to provide constructive comments to move us forward. However we will caution against Government pursuing a national, one size fits all, code of practice. A complex and bureaucratic code would create a duplicate regulatory structure that threatens to confuse operations for retailers.”