Portman Group seeks public's help

November 1, 2007: A new campaign aims to raise awareness of the strict controls on the naming, packaging and promotion of alcoholic drinks and invite complaints against any producer acting irresponsibly.

For the first time, the Portman Group will be advertising in the regional press in 15 UK cities and in magazines read by health professionals, trading standards officers, police licensing officers and drinks retailers. The advertisements will urge readers to complain to the Portman Group if they have concerns over drinks marketing.

It is also distributing copies of a new consumer guide to making complaints along with dripmats promoting both the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks and the independent complaints process supporting it.

The code applies to all alcoholic drinks sold in the UK. Over 70 drinks have been removed from sale in the last decade after the Independent Complaints Panel decided they were packaged or promoted in an irresponsible way.

David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, the social responsibility body for drinks producers, said: “We want to raise awareness of the independent complaints process and the strict rules controlling drinks producer activities. This campaign is targeting consumers and those people who are likely to come across irresponsible products and promotions through their work.

"While we continue to be proactive in raising standards, complaints help us to identify and eliminate any inappropriate marketing that is letting down the rest of the industry.”

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