ABFI calls for more engagement
Following the announcement of the Government’s package of measures to tackle alcohol misuse yesterday, ABFI Director Kathryn D’Arcy has once again called on the Government stakeholders to engage with the drinks industry and has also raised some concerns that the sector has with the strategy as announced.
Print25 October 2013
“Consider the area of education, which are not prioritised(sic) in this strategy. Evidence shows that the principle influencers on youth drinking are parents and peers. The absence of education measures that could positively impact on a cultural acceptance of alcohol misuse from this Bill is a glaring omission,” she claimed.
However ABFI welcomes the move towards Statutory Codes and it looks forward to working with Government on these Codes but feels that there’s an over-emphasis on marketing restrictions without clear evidence that these proposals will address underage drinking and binge-drinking.
“Such restrictions are anti-business and anti-jobs and will not deliver the Government’s aim to reduce alcohol misuse,” she stated.
?The industry welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce advice and alcohol content labelling requirements on alcohol beverages. The measure had been supported by industry since 2007. However she also urged the Government to take account of the ongoing discussions at an EU level on a common EU approach to including calorific content on alcohol labels.
?The industry noted also the government’s decision to introduce a Minimum Unit Price for alcohol and cautioned that it would be important to consider the legal aspects of such a move and it has also reiterated its support for the re-introduction of the ban on below-cost selling as a more effective policy move.
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