10th May 1997

The 'Alcopops' Scandal

The drinks industry has behaved so cynically and irresponsibly in promoting 'alcopops' despite or perhaps because of their attraction to children and young people that it cannot be left to regulate itself, said Derek Rutherford, director of the IAS.

Derek Rutherford was speaking in support of the Daily Express' initiative to seek to ban alcopops and also of the commitment by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, that if the drinks industry did not put its house in order very quickly the Government would take the initiative.

Derek Rutherford continued:

'We fully support the Home Secretary in his determination to end the alcopop scandal. We have already supported MEP Eryl McNally's declaration on alcopops to the European Parliament for these drinks pose a threat not just to British children but to children across Europe and elsewhere. It is abundantly clear that self-regulation has not worked and that the drinks industry's so-called 'watch-dog' (the Portman Group) has got no teeth at all. The issue must be addressed both by the British Government and the European Union.