Commenting on the BMA and medical Royal Colleges letter to the Public Health Minister calling for a new alcohol strategy, Martin Narey, Chairman of the Portman Group has said:
“Partnerships between the industry and Government have helped to ensure that the vast majority of the population choose to drink responsibly, with a 15% fall in alcohol consumption since 2004, as well as ongoing declines in underage drinking, alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour across the UK. However it is important to recognise that there is a minority of drinkers, 4%, who drink at very harmful levels and the Portman Group believes that the Government needs to work with industry to help target this minority through tailored interventions.”