Portman Group

The Portman Group was established in 1989 by the main alcohol producers supplying the UK market. They claim that thier purpose is to promote responsible drinking; help prevent misuse of alcohol; encourage responsible marketing; and to foster a balanced understanding of alcohol-related issues. ^[1]

The Portman Group are funded by the drinks industry and claim to: "recognise the importance to their own commercial freedom of tackling the social problems associated with alcohol misuse. We speak for these companies on social aspects of alcohol. We do not represent any drinks company or other part of the trade on any other matter." ^[2]

The Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (England)was launched in March 2004 (and subsequently reaffirmed in the Choosing Health White Paper). One of the aims was to develop a fund with broad based suport, financed voluntarily by industry to tackle alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harms. "It was envisaged that the fund would be used to finance community and national activities across the UK and would be administered by an independent board, wholly independent of Government". ^[3].

The Department of Health was approached by The Portman Group, which hoped its charitable arm, The Drinkaware Trust, would be a suitable vehicle to deliver the proposed new fund. After consultation and considerable negotiations between a variety of stakeholders between 2005-2006, "a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government, Devolved Administrations and The Portman Group was signed on 29 June 2006, whereby it was agreed that, as soon as was “reasonably practicable, the governance, funding base and activities of the existing Drinkaware Trust will be re-structured to fulfil the educational, community and awareness campaigning role envisaged in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for a fund, voluntarily financed by the alcohol industry (producers and retailers), but with broadly-based support to tackle alcohol-related harms" ^[4]

The drinkaware trust, formerly Potman Group's charitable arm

Full Members who fund the Portman Group are as follows:

• Bacardi Brown Forman Brands
• Beverage Brands (UK) Ltd
• Carlsberg UK
• Coors Brewers UK
• Diageo Great Britain
• InBev UK Ltd
• Pernod Ricard UK
• Scottish & Newcastle

Another 140 companies are signed up to the Portman Group Code of Practice, which encourages responsible marketing by the drinks industry. The on and off trade retailers in particular play a vital role in helping to enforce the decisions of the Independent Complaints Panel. ^[5]

The Portman Group reportedly, offered several British scientists a fee of £2000 to write anonymous critiques undermining a publication calling for more controls on the sale of alcohol namely higher tax and more restricted availability.^[6] (seeMarcus Grant)

Key People

• David Poley Chief Executive
• Michael Thompson Head of Communications and External Affairs (From Jan 2007)Prior to taking his position witht the Portman Group Thompson was senior press officer for the Law Society.

Notes

1. ^ The Portman Group Promoting Responsible Drinking Company Web Site
2. ^ The Portman GroupWho We Are
3. ^The Drinkaware trustBackground and Origins Jan 2007
4. ^ The portman Group The 140 companies who have signed up to the Portman Group Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging & Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks are listed here Portman Group Web Site Feb 2007
5. ^ Colin Drummond (2000) Oxford Journals; Alcohol & Alcoholism, vol. 35 Book Review