News and Press

New report reveals voluntary regulation by the alcohol industry is not working

31 Jul 2008

A study carried out by KPMG for the Home Office in England has revealed that the alcohol industry’s Social Responsibility Standards are currently having negligible impact in either reducing bad practice or promoting good practice in sale of alcoholic drinks. Practices frequently observed during the course of the study include:

• People who appear to be under-18 frequently being admitted to age restricted venues in
  which they cannot purchase alcohol legally;
• the promotion of alcohol through low price offers, inducements by DJs to consume
  greater quantities, and glamorisation through links with sexual imagery;
• encouragement to drink more and faster through shots and shooters being “downed in
  one”;
• sales to blatantly intoxicated people.

The report goes on to explore options for a more effective mechanism to help ensure the alcohol drinks industry and non-industry organisations address the causes and impact of alcohol-related harm.

Go to the Home Office website to view the full report.