FDBusiness.com

Drinks producers and retailers have announced a significant range of voluntary industry actions to help the UK Government tackle alcohol misuse and promote responsible drinking.

In response to the partnership challenge set by Government, businesses have developed six innovative voluntary pledges ranging from:

supporting local areas to tackle anti-social behaviour by rolling out alcohol partnership schemes in Local Alcohol Action Areas by the end of 2015

* Introducing new good practice guidance for the responsible retailing of alcohol in the off-trade

* Some producers reviewing carbonated products in single serve cans so they do not contain more than 4 units of alcohol

* Offering lower alcohol house wines below 12.5% and lower and no-alcohol beers in pubs, bars and restaurants to help people drink within recommended guidelines

* Providing £250,000 to kick start funding for new education programmes in schools

* Committing to train 10,000 pub, bar and retail staff by 2016 to gain a  British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Responsible Alcohol Retailing qualification, actively prioritising those areas most likely to benefit.

These pledges are in addition to the eight core alcohol pledges already made as part of the Public Heath Responsibility Deal. Different partners will sign up to each of the pledges as appropriate.

British Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt says: “Our Responsibility Deal has made real progress, as the industry is taking one billion units out of the market and has agreed to provide labelling which includes health warnings and unit information. The new pledges will help people to drink responsibly and make healthier choices.”

Home Secretary Theresa May says: “Alcohol-fuelled harm costs taxpayers £21 billion a year. It is therefore right that the alcohol industry is taking action to help reduce this burden, without penalising those that drink responsibly. The government welcomes the progress the alcohol industry has made so far in responding to the challenge we set them.We now look forward to seeing the positive impact of these pledges and continuing to work with industry to explore what else can be done to tackle alcohol abuse.”

Henry Ashworth, Chair of the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network, says: “UK drinks producers and retailers have a strong track record in delivering programmes of voluntary activity to support government in tackling anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol misuse. As responsible businesses, we are determined to play our part and have set out a whole new programme of voluntary actions in response to the challenge set by the Government. Working in partnership with business is a great way to get positive change happening quickly in towns and cities throughout the UK.”