Portman Group extends Code of Practice response deadline

Published: 20 December, 2011

The Portman Group is extending the deadline for responses to its consultation on the Code of Practice for responsible alcohol marketing until January 31, 2012.

This gives an extra two weeks after Christmas for people to send responses in.

Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group is asking for everyone who has commented on alcohol marketing in the past or has an interest to respond.

"We are asking some really big questions about the future of alcohol marketing regulation and it is really important that we get as many responses as possible."

The Portman Group offered to review the Code as one of the industry pledges made under the Responsibility Deal to see if there are areas which need tightening up or extending within the self-regulatory framework.

Questions include: should the code be extended to cover all drinks producer marketing activity which is not otherwise regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority or Ofcom, including retailer-led promotions and public relations activity?

· Should the restrictions on promoting the strength of alcohol be changed to enable producers to promote products which are lower in strength?

· Should there be a binding requirement for companies to build a commitment to social responsibility into their sponsorship agreements - what should this entail and how should it be worded?

· Should the Code be tightened even further to prevent any suggestion of sexual activity or that alcohol has therapeutic properties such as relaxation?

The code applies to all alcohol sold or marketed in the UK.

The consultation can be downloaded from the Portman Group's website portmangroup.co.uk/?pid=1003&level=1

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