As the social responsibility body for the alcohol industry we are keen to understand how extended isolation and social distancing has impacted the drinking habits of people across the UK. Seeking to be robust, we commissioned the only study from YouGov[i] to look at a baseline for weekly drinking and the changes that followed.

We seek to be transparent with the results of our research, so you can view the full study here. In summary, they show:

• Overall, the majority of Brits are drinking the same or less compared to before lockdown, with a large majority remaining within the UK Chief Medical Officers’ 14 units a week low risk drinking guidelines. Even among those drinking more, close to half remain within these guidelines.
• Prior to lockdown, 75% of UK adults said they either did not drink or drank within the CMO’s guidelines of 14 units per week. This equates to 6 pints of 4% ABV beer or 6 glasses of 13% ABV wine a week.
• When asked if their drinking had increased or decreased since lockdown, two thirds (65%) of Brits who drank alcohol before the lockdown said that they are drinking the same, less or had stopped drinking altogether.
• A large majority of drinkers remain within the low risk guidelines, including 81% of those drinking less and 72% of those drinking thereabouts the same. Even among those drinking more, close to half (44%) remain within these guidelines.
• When those who are drinking less are asked about how they are moderating their intake of alcohol, 18% say they are intentionally limiting their purchase of alcohol in shops and 10% are incorporating alcohol-free days into their week.

This research builds on a number of other surveys from YouGov, CGA, Alcohol Change UK, Drinkaware and the Institute for Employment Studies, which consistently show that there has not been a spike in alcohol consumption under lockdown. Taken together, it appears that around 4 in 5 Brits are drinking the same, less or stopped during lockdown, with around a third drinking less and a 1 in 5 drinking more.

This appears to support evidence that the lockdown has resulted in fewer sales. Despite media articles highlighting increased supermarket sales, retail sales were more than offset by a collapse in sales in pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. Tellingly alcohol duty receipts published by HMRC, which reflect all sales, show a fall in receipts of 17% from £1.74bn in March-April 2019 to £1.44bn in March-April 2020.[ii]

For more stats on UK consumption rates view our fact sheet.

Harmful drinking

Whilst our results show that not all increases in drinking should be a cause for alarm, we must be mindful that there remains a minority who continue to drink at high risk levels and have actually increased their consumption.

Our shared efforts need to focus on tackling hazardous drinking and those struggling with alcohol dependence or those on the brink of dependence. There is a real risk this has been exacerbated by the pandemic cutting off social and professional support as well as further economic pressures. Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous and its effects should not be downplayed.

People drinking at hazardous levels need professional support to overcome what are often multi-faceted challenges. We would encourage all those concerned about their drinking, or about the drinking of someone around them, to seek help from a health professional or visit Drinkaware.co.uk for free support and practical advice.

Looking ahead

As the UK plans for the reopening of the hospitality industry, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic that moderate drinking patterns will continue. Polling from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking suggests that half (50%) of Brits intend to maintain their new drinking habits, with 35% expecting to return to pre-lockdown habits.[iii]

This survey reinforces the pattern of evidence from other research suggesting that the UK is,and largely continues to be, a nation of responsible drinkers.

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[i] YouGov surveyed 2,070 adults from across the UK online between 22 May and 26 May 2020. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.

[ii] HMRC – Alcohol Bulletin, May 2020

[iii] IARD June 2020

Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel – Vacancy (June 2020)

Background

The Portman Group was established to promote social responsibility amongst alcohol producers and to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to acting responsibly. Across the last thirty years, it has consistently sought to raise standards within the sector and to showcase best practice. As the alcohol watchdog, it regulates the promotion and packaging of alcohol through a rigorous Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks and a Code of Practice on Sponsorship, both of which challenge drinks producers to market and promote their products responsibly.

Complaints made under the Code are considered by an Independent Complaints Panel.  This Panel operates separately from the Portman Group whose role is solely to provide a Secretariat function.

The Code was launched in 1996 and has been reviewed and strengthened and is currently in its sixth edition.  It is regarded as an effective and important system of self-regulation, which commands high levels of compliance and support amongst alcoholic drinks producers and retailers in the UK.

The Independent Complaints Panel is solely responsible for adjudicating on complaints made under the Code.  The Panel has nine members, including the Chair. Details of current membership and the Panel’s decisions are published on the Portman Group website, www.portmangroup.org.uk

The other members of the Panel are appointed by the Chair and the Panel is independently constituted.

Previous Chairs have included Laurence Shurman, the former Banking Ombudsman, Lord Condon, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Sir Richard Tilt, former Director General of the Prison Service.  Jenny Watson, former Chair of the Electoral Commission, is the current Chair and will step down in in September 2020.

Panel Chair – role specification

The Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel will:

• Chair ICP meetings: the Panel is scheduled to meet nine times a year and meetings normally last no longer than two-three hours;
• Liaise as appropriate with members of the secretariat, in particular to consider requests for informal resolution and to approve draft minutes of Panel meetings and decisions;
• Be available as required to provide guidance to Secretariat on decisions of process and timing;
• Attend hearings of oral representations if (as may happen very exceptionally) agreed by the Panel in individual cases;
• Give public comments for Portman Group press releases about Panel decisions;
• Attend and address occasional meetings to describe or promote the work of the Panel and the Code. Examples of such meetings could include the Code signatories’ forum and background briefings for government officials, journalists or relevant organisations with an interest in the workings of the Code;
• Provide a short Chair’s report for the Annual Code Report.

Neither the Chair nor any other members of the Panel represent or speak on behalf of the Portman Group or its member companies in public or otherwise. It is the Portman Group’s role to publicise the Panel’s decisions to the media, industry and other audiences.

The Chair and all Panel members are fully indemnified, individually and collectively, against any action by drinks companies who may challenge the Panel’s decision in relation to their product.

Panel Chair – person specification

The successful candidate will:

• Be a figure with a national reputation of standing and credibility in their field, though NOT in any way related to the alcoholic drinks industry;
• Experienced at chairing meetings, drawing out differing views and guiding the discussion to an agreed conclusion;
• Have an understanding of self-regulatory frameworks and demonstrate an understanding of the objectives of the Code of Practice;
• Have a balanced approach to alcohol issues and be committed to promoting corporate social responsibility and responsible drinking by consumers
• Have excellent communications and interpersonal skills;
• Be able to demonstrate understanding of and compliance with the Nolan principles of public life, ie selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. (NB This is not a public appointment but the Portman Group is committed to following similar standards of openness and transparency in making this appointment).

Terms and conditions

The Chair will be appointed for a three-year term, renewable for a further three years by mutual agreement.

An honorarium, currently set at £16k per annum, is paid, as are reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses. The Chair is personally responsible for any tax and other liabilities.

Recruitment process

Applications are to be sent to people@portmangroup.org.uk by 17.00 on Friday 10 July 2020.  Please submit a full CV, together with a covering letter explaining how your experience and qualities meet the role and person specification above.

Please include the names and full contact details of two referees, who must have known you in a professional capacity for at least three years. Referees will not be contacted without prior agreement.

The Portman Group is committed to equal opportunities; applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates who meet the stated criteria. The Chair will be appointed through an open and public recruitment process in full accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

June 2020

Written by John Timothy, Portman Group Chief Executive

As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol producers of all sizes are playing their part to aid frontline healthcare workers and support those in the industry and local communities impacted by ongoing closures to contain the virus.

At the start of the pandemic, producers of all sizes were quick to switch production lines to provide alcohol for hand sanitiser and disinfectant and so far, our members have produced enough alcohol for these purposes to fill around 10,000 bathtubs.

We applaud the solidarity and efforts shown by producers and groups across the industry to make a difference during this unprecedented and difficult time.

Just some of the actions taken by Portman Group members in response to COVID-19 include:

• Aston Manor Cider: A longstanding commitment to Grocery Aid who have launched a dedicated COVID-19 Fund. The fund is backed by £1.5m to provide enhanced support for grocery colleagues on Mental Health, Bereavement Financial Assistance and Crisis Grants.
• Asahi: Across the world, Asahi has invested in the development of hand sanitisers. In the UK, they have donated 5,000 face masks and 1,500 gloves and products (including low and no alcohol) to several thousand hospitals, care homes and community facilities. They have partnered with the National Emergencies Trust and committed to match-fund donations made by consumers up to £50,000 alongside committing a percentage of their online sales per case of Meantime product to their charity partner ‘Only a Pavement Away’.
• Bacardi: Globally, Bacardi has a commitment to produce more than 1.1 million litres of hand sanitiser. In the UK, the Laverstoke Mill distillery in Hampshire is producing a small quantity of hand sanitizers to be donated to local doctors, chemists and care homes; whilst the Dewar distillery in Aberfeldy is helping to produce hand sanitisers for the Scottish Ambulance Association among other local community groups.
• Brown-Forman: In the UK, Brown-Forman have donated to the Drinks Trust COVID-19 Fund and launched a ‘virtual tip jar’ to support the Drinks Trust. They have also launched ‘The Lost Shift’ competition for bartenders who are currently unable to work due to the pandemic and have partnered with Healthy Hospo to launch ‘The Lockdown Lowdown’ to help support bartenders around the world maintain overall health and wellbeing during the lockdown.
• Budweiser Brewing Group: In the UK, they have distributed free of charge more than 10,000 litres of hand sanitiser and disinfectant to the Metropolitan Police, Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. They have also gifted products (including low and no alcohol) to frontline workers. Meanwhile, their ‘Save Pub Life’ campaign which allows pub goers to purchase a gift card to use at a later date and so far they have match-funded more than £824,000 to the trade and their Bud Light brand is keeping people connected with the UK’s largest virtual pub quiz.
• Carlsberg: Globally, the Carlsberg Foundations have donated DKK 95 million (approx. £11 million) in response to COVID-19, with recipients including three internationally recognised Coronavirus research teams. In the UK, they have frozen certain payments for the on-trade, donated 580HL of alcohol from their Kent brewery to making hand sanitisers, and launched the ‘Love My Local’ platform which enables pubs, bars and restaurants to set up to offer takeaway food and drink. They have also made £10,000 available for the Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to help the local community and donating bottled beers – including alcohol free – to health care workers in Northampton.
• Diageo: Globally, Diageo has pledged to donate up to 2 million of litres of alcohol to create more than 8 million bottles of hand sanitiser to help protect key frontline healthcare workers, including 500,000 litres in the UK and Ireland. Diageo has also donated £1 million to support the wages of bartenders in UK pubs and bars and is offering free training to hospitality workers through the ‘Diageo Learning for Life: Virtual Academy’.
• Heineken: Is supporting its 2,500 leased Star Pubs and Bars by suspending the collection of rent and associated charges. They are also providing support to grassroots communities through the ‘Heineken Community Fund’ in partnership with Neighbourly.com to help vulnerable people up and down the country.
• Mast-Jägermeister: In Germany, Mast-Jäegermeister has donated 50,000 litres of alcohol for the production of disinfectant. In the UK, Jägermeister UK has made significant donations to the Drinks Trust Covid Relief Fund including through the Livery Emergency Action Fund.
• Pernod Ricard: Within the UK they have so far pledged around 200,000 litres of hand sanitiser to the NHS and local community groups. They have donated £250,000 to the Drinks Trust, through Chivas Brothers they have donated £300,000 to NHS Charities Together, donated £25,000 to the Moray Emergency Relief Fund. Pernod Ricard has also partnered with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust o offer Level 1 Spirits courses online for free.
• SHS Drinks: To help those severely impacted by the pandemic, SHS Drinks have provided 14 foodbanks and local charities with monetary donations. This has aided the collation of care packages for households and vulnerable groups within the community. As part of their ‘Wellness Wednesday’ employee health & wellbeing campaign they have provided guidance, support and information resources to promote responsible drinking during the pandemic.

To aid efforts, the Scotch Whisky Association have created an online portal to connect distillers who can produce high-strength ethanol and/or hand sanitiser with packagers, distributors and organisations who are in need of hand sanitiser.

Other trade bodies are playing their part in co-ordinating support for the hospitality industry and workers effected by the prolonged shutdown. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association, Society of Independent Brewers and National Association of Cider Makers have created online hubs bringing together key pieces of advice for businesses, whilst the Campaign for Real Ale and SIBA have launched the ‘Pulling Together’ campaign to help consumers continue to support their local pubs and brewers.

Finally, the independent charity Drinkaware is encouraging consumers to drink in moderation and to be careful not to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety while in isolation.

These are just some of the actions taken to date, with many producers committed to further steps in the days and weeks ahead.  Together, we will pull each other through this, and we encourage everyone to look out for each other and look after their own physical and mental health.

This article first appeared in Drinks Retailing News.

Our Advisory Service is always here for you to give advice on the packaging and promotion of alcoholic drinks.

Since the lockdown started, we’ve had a few enquiries about how to offer product samples responsibly.  Promoters are turning to online platforms and home delivery services to enable consumers to try new products.  There is a particular risk that we’d like you to consider before you run a sampling promotion this way.

Our guidance on sampling says that promoters should:

Only offer samples to people who are over the age of 18. If in doubt ask for proof of age (driving licence, passport or PASS-accredited proof of age card). If proof of age cannot be supplied and you have any doubts as to whether the person is over 18 then you should politely refuse to offer them a sample.

Under the current social distancing guidelines, most deliveries are contact-free and it may be difficult to verify the age of recipients.

Of course, it’s not unusual for alcohol to be delivered to people in their homes as part of their grocery shopping, and retailers will ensure that they do not sell alcohol to under-18s through their home delivery services.  But when a product sample is offered for free, on request, and delivered to the doorstep, there’s a particular risk that it might be supplied to under-18s.  We think it’s not enough to rely on online forms that ask people to enter their date of birth or tick a box to confirm that they are over 18.

If you want to send samples to consumers at home, you should make sure that you have a reliable way to check the age of the person who receives the sample.  If you feel that you cannot do that at the moment without breaking the social distancing guidelines, you should delay your promotion until you are able to do it responsibly.

If you’d like more guidance on this or want to ask about a specific promotion you’re planning, please get in touch through our website or email advice@portmangroup.org.uk

As lockdown loomed over a month ago, we saw numerous media articles featuring supermarket shelves stripped bare as people stockpiled alcohol and other items in the face of continued social distancing measures.

UK alcohol sales jumped by 22% in March, representing an extra £200m in sales of wine, beer and spirits compared to 2019, giving rise to concern that increased sales would be reflected in increased consumption fuelling binge drinking at home.

Several weeks on and, despite the initial fears, the emerging evidence suggests that stockpiling has not resulted in increased consumption. Consider the nation laying down wine, beer, cider and spirits in expectation of supply problems (which haven’t materialised), rather than millions of raucous isolation parties across the nation’s living rooms.

Evidence from researchers, including Alcohol Change UK, shows that around four in five British drinkers continue to drink responsibly, either by drinking the same or less compared to before lockdown. Prior to the lockdown, data from across the UK showed that 78% of adults did not drink or stuck within UK Government weekly drinking guidelines.

For some, the lockdown is providing the impetus to reduce their alcohol intake, with between a quarter and a third of drinkers cutting down or cutting out alcohol altogether.

Recently released surveys highlighting this trend include:

• An initial survey from consumer insights agency CGA showed that 42% of respondents reported they were drinking less and 14% said they were drinking more, implying that 44% were drinking the same as before lockdown. Furthermore, 37% said they were drinking less often, while 16% said they were drinking more often. (3 April – 500 sample size)
• A survey on homeworker wellbeing from the Institute for Employment Studies showed that 20% of respondents reported increased alcohol consumption, implying 80% were drinking the same or less. (7 April – 500 sample)
• YouGov showed that 81% of British drinkers were drinking the same (57%) or less (24%) since lockdown. With the remaining 17% drinking more, but only 1% of which reporting ‘much more’ and 16% ‘a bit more’. Those aged 18-24 were both most likely to drink more (25%) and less (28%) when compared to other age groups. (8 April – unclear sample size)
• An Alcohol Change UK / Opinium survey showed that 35% of British drinkers were drinking less often or had stopped drinking altogether and 21% reported drinking more often, implying 44% are drinking the same. Looking more closely, it appears that declines are being driven by the majority of drinkers who already drink less often and within Government guidelines, whilst the increase seems to be driven by those already drinking at more harmful levels. (16 April – 2,000 sample)
• A further survey from CGA of 5,000 adults shows that 83% of Brits report drinking the same (46%), less (28%) or cutting out alcohol completely (9%), although 17% report drinking more than usual. Furthermore, nearly half (45%) of those who typically drink out weekly report drinking less than usual or cutting out alcohol altogether, with 20% reporting an increase in consumption. (1 May)

Separately, the latest figures from Kantar show that sales of low and no alcohol products at supermarkets and off-license have increased 18% in 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019, with a rise of 32.5% immediately prior to lockdown, showing how much they have become a new part of many Brits’ responsible drinking habits.

Furthermore, while retail alcohol purchases are up, this is more than offset by a collapse in sales in pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants shuttered by the lockdown. Just taking beer as an example, sales in pubs slumped 40% in March compared to the same period last year, whilst sales in supermarkets and off-licences grew 10.6%, with overall beer sales down by 12.7% compared to last year.

Whilst the majority of the findings from the surveys are encouraging, the surveys still seem to indicate a concerning trend that around one in five are drinking more at home.

These findings should not be overlooked, especially as the lockdown and social distancing measures continue into the future.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, Drinkaware has created a coronavirus information hub focused on providing free support and practical advice to help people cut back.

We would urge all consumers who choose to drink to do so responsibly and to look out for each other and their own physical and mental health during this difficult and unprecedented time.

*This post originally appeared on Drinks Retailing News*

As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol producers of all sizes are playing their part in making donations to aid frontline healthcare workers and support those in the industry and local communities impacted by ongoing closures to contain the virus.

We applaud the efforts of all producers and groups across the industry to make a difference during this unprecedented and difficult time.

Just some of the actions taken by Portman Group members in response to COVID-19 include:

• Asahi: Across the world, Asahi has invested in the development of hand sanitisers, whilst in Japan Asahi Group Holdings Ltd has donated 150 million yen’s worth of food & beverage products to social causes and facilities for vulnerable people. In the UK, Asahi has also supported NHS Trusts local to its London breweries in Greenwich and Chiswick.
• Bacardi: Globally, Bacardi has a commitment to produce more than 1.1 million litres of hand sanitiser. In the UK, the Laverstoke Mill distillery in Hampshire is producing a small quantity of hand sanitizers to be donated to local doctors, chemists and care homes; whilst the Dewar distillery in Aberfeldy is helping to produce hand sanitisers for the Scottish Ambulance Association among other local community groups.
• Brown-Forman: In the US, the Brown-Forman Corporation has donated $1 million to COVID-19 response funds, with donations to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation to support their COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund and to the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation Emergency Assistance Programme.
• Budweiser Brewing Group: Across Europe, AB-InBev is producing 50,000 litres of ready-to-use disinfectant alcohol, using the surplus alcohol from its alcohol-free beers for European hospitals; and it is committed to producing and donating more as needed. AB InBev is also offering billboards in cities in Belgium and the Netherlands to reinforce public health preventative measures for those still commuting to work. Budweiser Brewing Group UK have donated 6,000 litres of hand sanitiser to the Metropolitan Police and have also launched the ‘Save Pub Life’ campaign to allow pub goers to purchase a gift card to use at a later date, with the company matching the funding the pub receives.
• Carlsberg: Globally, the Carlsberg Foundations have donated DKK 95 million (approx. £11 million) in response to COVID-19, with recipients including three internationally recognised Coronavirus research teams. In the UK, the company has taken action to support the local community, making around £10,000 available for Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
• Diageo: Globally, Diageo has pledged to donate up to 2 million of litres of alcohol to create more than 8 million bottles of hand sanitiser to help protect key frontline healthcare workers, including 500,000 litres in the UK and Ireland. Diageo has also pledged £1 million to support the wages of bartenders in pubs and bars across Great Britain and is offering complimentary virtual training as the hospitality industry closes down to help tackle the virus.
• Heineken: Is supporting its 2,500 leased Star Pubs and Bars by suspending the collection of rent and associated charges until at least the end of April, and is working to ensure uptake of the additional support made available by the UK Government.
• Mast-Jäegermeister: In Germany, Mast-Jäegermeister has donated 50,000 litres of alcohol for the production of disinfectant. Furthermore, the Mast family has donated 1 million Euro to establish a solidarity fund for small local businesses in Wolfenbüttel, and, via the ‘Curt Mast Jägermeister Foundation’ have bought and donated bouquets to local medical staff to thank them for their great service for the community and to residents of local retirement homes.
• Pernod Ricard: Globally, the company is aiding the production of hand sanitisers, including in France, Sweden, the US, Spain and Ireland. In the UK, Pernod Ricard has pledged an initial donation of 100,000 litre of ethanol to help bolster hand sanitiser and has donated £250,000 to The Drink Trust to support the drinks industry workforce. Pernod Ricard has also partnered with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust o offer Level 1 Spirits courses online for free.

To aid efforts, the Scotch Whisky Association have created an online portal to connect distillers who can produce high-strength ethanol and/or hand sanitiser with packagers, distributors and organisations who are in need of hand sanitiser.

Other trade bodies are playing their part in co-ordinating support for the hospitality industry and workers effected by the prolonged shutdown. The Wine and Spirits Trade Association, Society of Independent Brewers and National Association of Cider Makers have created online hubs bringing together key pieces of advice for businesses, whilst the Campaign for Real Ale and SIBA have launched the ‘Pulling Together’ campaign to help consumers continue to support their local pubs and brewers.

Finally, the independent charity Drinkaware is encouraging consumers to drink in moderation and to be careful not to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety while in isolation.

These are just some of the actions taken to date, with many producers committed to further steps in the days and weeks ahead.  Together, we will pull each other through this, and we encourage everyone to look out for each other and look after their own physical and mental health.

In light of the Government’s Covid-19 advice the Portman Group team are currently working remotely. If you need to get in touch, please get in touch via the following means:

An advice request

A naming, packaging and promotions complaint

A sponsorship complaint

If you have a media request then please call our press line on 07730 525701.