ACS calls on government to continue partnership approach on alcohol strategy

By Richard Siddle

Published: 23 May, 2013

The Association of Convenience Stores has called on the government to continue to work with the drinks and retail industries in shaping its future alcohol strategy.

Speaking at the Future of Alcohol Policy conference today, the ACS's public affairs director, Shane Brennan, said: "Everything we have achieved in recent years, which includes dramatic reductions in underage and binge drinking, has been achieved through effective partnership. This has been achieved at the national level through pioneering schemes such as Challenge 25 and the Responsibility Deal and at the local level through initiatives such as Community Alcohol Partnerships.

"Therefore the future has to be about cementing those partnerships and seeking common solutions to local problems. This should be our focus and we must resist the temptation to impose yet more regulations or to impose top down solutions that rarely achieve the engagement necessary to make a real difference."

Today's confernce brought together the key stakeholders in the alcohol debate including Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, of the Alcohol Health Alliance, Henry Ashworth, chief executive, of the Portman Group as well as representives from key drinks players including Diageo, and interested health, advertising, local government and legal bodies.

The drinks industry continues to wait to see how the government is going to continue with its Alcohol Strategy since it was first published in March 2012, following its climbdown on introducing a minimum unit for alcohol.

Today's conference was organised by Westminster Forum Projects.

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