Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru). It was answered on Monday, 19 June 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Under-age Drinking

Question: Further to the question asked by the hon. Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson) about alcopops, will the Minister look again at the way in which the Portman Group is supposedly regulating the matter? It is time for Government intervention, because that advertising is targeted at youngsters, creating a problem that should not exist. Will the Government undertake to look again at the way in which the Portman Group is allegedly regulating that activity?

Answer: The hon. Gentleman may be aware that the document on social responsibility standards for the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in the UK that was released last November includes guidelines on the marketing of those alcoholic drinks and supplements the existing guidelines from the Advertising Standards Authority and the Portman Group’s code of practice on the packaging, marketing and sale of alcoholic beverages. We must keep the matter under review, because those drinks are particularly attractive to young people, but I accept the point made by the hon. Gentleman.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 447 c1050
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Alcoholic drinks Young people Crime Prosecutions Misuse Licensing laws Retail trade
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk