There is no straight yes or no answer to the question. Drinks companies should take responsibility for their own promotions and should shoulder the blame if they fail to adhere to the Portman Group's code of practice. They cannot be held accountable, however, for alcohol misuse as a whole or for retailer-led promotions that may feature their products.
Edwin Mutton - director general, ISP
Generally, promoters act responsibly but cause for concern comes from ad-hoc local activity offering extended "happy hours" or "drink all you can for £10". This fuels binge drinking. The small number of ill-advised promotions are having a disproportionate effect on the perceptions of the government. To this extent, the industry must take some blame.
Eric Appleby - chief executive, Alcohol Concern
A few irresponsible promoters continue to flout the trade's own rules, notably the BBPA's own guidance that says entry fees entitling customers to free drinks should be avoided. We would like to see strong measures against those who encourage "binge drinking" through strong licensing and advertising controls as part of the government's forthcoming national alcohol harm reduction strategy.
Sam Ellis - head of sales promotion, Poulters Partners
No. Most drinkers go out with the intention of drinking moderately or excessively and they'll do that whether brands are promoted or not. However, if brands or retailers sponsor severe price discounts - trebles for singles, for example - then there's no escaping the criticism that you are actively encouraging a "binge".
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