Government blocks move for alcohol ad ban

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, was accused of "caving in" to the drinks industry after he had vetoed proposals to curb ads during negotiations on a new "responsibility deal" to encourage sensible drinking.

Alcohol Concern tabled plans for a "tax" on marketing budgets to fund alcohol treatment services; to restrict cinema ads to "18" certificate films; to ban marketing based on price; for health and alcohol unit messages to be included in all ads, and for independent monitoring of whether under-18s are exposed to alcohol ads.

The only proposal to survive was a commitment by the drinks industry to ban posters within 100 metres of schools.

Although the Advertising Association and ISBA backed the deal, six groups - including Alcohol Concern, the British Medical Association and Royal College of Physicians - refused to sign the agreement because of the Department of Health's stance.

Don Shenker, Alcohol Concern's chief executive, said: "We'll continue to call for laws to compel drinks companies and retailers to sell alcohol responsibly, with mandatory labelling, health warnings and reduced marketing."

Lansley added: "We know regulation is costly, can take years and is often only determined at a European Union-wide level. That's why we have to introduce new ways of achieving better results."

This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk