Health groups pull out of alcohol deal

14th March 2011 - Six health groups have rejected a Government backed 'responsibility deal' on alcohol in England and accused ministers of paying more attention to the demands of the drinks industry.

Under the terms of the deal, the drinks industry would agree to a voluntary code expected to cover such issues as promotion and labelling. However, six of the health groups which had been involved in the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network (RDAN) have decided not to sign up. The organisations, which include Alcohol Concern, The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians, said the agreement was not going to be tough enough to cut alcohol related deaths and illness.

'Siding with big business'

Alcohol Concern said there were "no firm targets or any sanctions if the drinks industry fails to fulfil its pledges". Its spokesman, Don Shenker, said in a statement that "this government has clearly shown that when it comes to public health its first priority is to side with big business and protect private profit".

The Department of Health said that the responsibility deal was just one strand of the Government’s public health policies.

In a joint statement, the health groups, which also include the British Liver Trust, the British Association for the Study of the Liver and the Institute of Alcohol Studies, say that the drinks industry pledges are not specific enough and could not be measured for success.

They add that "The RDA process has prioritised industry views and not considered alternative pledges put forward by the health community". It said these "have included proposed pledges: to not advertise alcohol based on price; to not advertise in cinemas for under-18 films: and to include health warnings on all drinks products".

Pricing and promotion

The six also calls on the Government to make firm commitments on tackling affordability, availability and promotion of alcohol. They're also seeking agreement on tougher alcohol restrictions if a voluntary code failed.

The British Medical Association said it had thought "long and hard" about walking away from the negotiating table but had decided there was no other course of action. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Director of Professional Activities at the BMA, said in a statement: "The government has talked the talk in respect of wanting to tackle alcohol misuse but when it comes to taking tough action that will achieve results it falls short.  Instead it has chosen to rely on the alcohol industry to develop policies - given the inherent conflict of interest these will do nothing to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse."

Liver disease

The British Liver Trust said the drinks industry had "too much clout" in drawing up alcohol policy. Its Chief Executive, Alison Rogers, said in a statement: "For more than 10 years we have been persuaded to play the long game, sitting and watching the alcohol industry cultivate their relationship with the Government. Now it must stop for the sake of the 100 families losing loved ones each week from alcohol-related liver disease.”

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, defended the deal saying in an emailed statement that it "has achieved more in the last six months than the previous Government’s Coalition for Better Health did in a year and a half." Lansley added: "What is more, this is only the first step".