The voice of the wine and spirit industry

Public Health

We welcome the Government’s approach to improving public health which favours a partnership approach with industry, rather than trying to force change through the blunt instrument of legislation. We all share the consequences of alcohol misuse as individuals and as a society: surely it is right that we collectively─ industry, government, business, the third sector and individuals─ share responsibility for changing it. And industry is well-placed to help support people make better, informed decisions about their alcohol consumption. 

Public Health Responsibility Deal
At the forefront of the Government’s approach to tackling alcohol misuse is the Public Health Responsibility Deal. Under the Deal, launched in March 2011, government, businesses and NGOs have come together to tackle obesity, alcohol misuse, lack of exercise and health at work through a series of voluntary commitments. The Responsibility Deal presents a valuable opportunity for the industry to build on the good work it has already delivered in recent years to encourage responsible drinking and tackle alcohol harm. At its launch, more than 180 organisations signed up to the Deal as a whole, with 90 businesses supporting seven collective alcohol pledges setting out the action the industry will take. 

The WSTA is playing a leading role in shaping the industry’s participation in the Deal. Chief Executive of the WSTA, Jeremy Beadles, is co-chairman of the Alcohol Network, the group charged with overseeing development of alcohol pledges, along with  Mark Bellis (Centre for Public Health), and supported by Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services.  Pledges include maintaining industry support for Drinkaware, unit awareness campaigns in both the on and off-trades and support for local initiatives such as Community Alcohol Partnerships. The launch of the Deal represents just the start of a long-term programme of work. In the coming months, we will be looking to develop more pledges in new areas. We urge as many businesses as possible to support the Deal. 

The online Department of Health registry provides full details of the Deal pledges and businesses that have formally signed up to the Deal: http://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/

Labelling of unit and health information
The Responsibility Deal includes an industry agreement to include clear unit labelling, NHS guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant on over 80 per cent of alcohol products on shelves by 2013. This pledge builds on the 2007 voluntary agreement the Government reached with the alcohol industry to include alcohol unit and health information on labels of alcoholic drinks.  In 2010, there was a government consultation on options for taking the 2007 agreement further, including a strengthened self-regulatory agreement with industry and a mandatory labelling scheme.
In light of the Responsibility Deal commitment, the UK Government and Devolved Administrations have agreed not to pursue the regulatory route on health labelling.  Click here for WSTA guidance on the labelling scheme. 

Alcohol Strategy
The Government has announced its intention to publish a new alcohol strategy later in 2011.  The first cross-government strategy to tackle the harm caused by alcohol was launched in 2004. A renewed Alcohol Strategy, Safe, Sensible, Social – Next Steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, published in June 2007, specifically focused on the minority of drinkers who cause the most harm to themselves, their communities and their families. The WSTA will work with government wherever possible on development of the new strategy.