The Portman Group’s Independent Complaints Panel (Panel) is seeking two new members to help consider complaints brought forward on the naming, packaging, promotion and sponsorship of alcoholic drinks in the UK.
The Portman Group operates an open and accessible complaints system allowing anyone to make a complaint against any product, promotion or alcohol sponsorship that they consider is in breach of the Codes of Practice. All complaints are considered by the Panel, currently chaired by Nicola Williams, and the Portman Group serves as the secretariat to the Panel. Since the Code was first published, over 170 products have been amended or removed from the market.
Panel membership consists of two terms across six years, and vacancies will replace two members whose terms of appointment will be coming to an end.
Members of the Panel represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experience in order to provide perspectives across society. The Panel’s role is to consider the concerns raised by the complainant and the response by the drink’s producer; to evaluate the marketing or sponsorship against the rules of the Codes; and to decide whether a breach has occurred. All Panel decisions are published and effective sanctions are in place to ensure that these decisions are enforced. All recent decisions can be found here.
In order to keep a balance of expertise and experience, the Panel is particularly interested in applicants with alcohol industry experience; an applicant who is or was directly employed by an alcoholic drinks producer or has sound knowledge of the UK alcohol self-regulatory marketing framework.
The Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel, Nicola Williams, said: “I am honoured to chair a panel of talented and committed individuals, all devoted to ensuring alcohol is marketed responsibly in the UK. We are now seeking two new members to join us in this task and are particularly interested in hearing from those who have alcohol industry experience.”
The Independent Complaints Panel meets a minimum of six times per year. These posts will be active from 1 March 2023. Panel members are paid an honorarium of £4000 per annum plus the reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
For the full details and to apply, please click here.
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