News and Press

Drinking at the last chance saloon

21 Jan 2010

A series of articles in today’s British Medical Journal highlight the failure of UK Government alcohol policy to limit the damage caused by alcohol use. The BMJ supports calls for more effective action including a minimum price on alcohol and a ban on alcohol advertising and sponsorship.

See BMJ editorial: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/jan20_1/c394

Other articles

Failure of self regulation of UK alcohol industry
Article showing that companies are “pushing the boundaries” of the advertising code of practice and warning that the UK system of self regulatory controls for alcohol advertising is failing. Professor Gerard Hastings and colleagues analysed a sample of internal marketing documents from four alcohol producers and their communications agencies. The documents were made available as part of the House of Commons Health Committee alcohol inquiry and included client briefs, media schedules, advertising budgets, and market research reports.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/jan20_1/b5650

Is the UK Government under the influence of the alcohol industry?
Article showing how the alcohol industry and trade organisations such as the Portman Group are well placed in UK policy circles to defend their vested commercial interests, and asks, is the government under the influence of the drinks industry?
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/jan20_1/b5659