What is a RAB?
After the Independent Complaints Panel (ICP) has upheld a complaint the producer will have several choices about how to proceed. Most producers will make changes to their packaging to bring it in line with the Code or voluntarily remove it from the UK market. However, if a producer refuses to comply with the decision or fails to respond to correspondence from us relating to the ruling we will issue a Retailer Alert Bulletin (RAB). A RAB is the Portman Group’s most serious sanction against a product which has breached of our Code. It requests that retailers to cease stocking the product and informs wider groups about the ICP decision.
A vital part of being an effective regulator is that the Independent Complaint Panel is able to make effective rulings and that non-compliance is not seen as a viable or attractive option. We believe that it is important for the industry to have strong self-regulation and RABs are an important tool to allow us to sanction products that do not meet the required standards for socially responsible marketing of alcohol.
We inform all our Code Signatories about the breach and request that they do not replenish stock after three months of the RAB being published. This ensures retailers are not financially punished for selling a problematic product and gives them ample time to sell through any remaining stock. Retailers who continue to stock a product in receipt of a RAB could be in breach of the Licensing Act which is enforced by Trading Standards.
You can see all our previous RABs here:
