Alcohol Information Partnership Weighs Balanced Approach to New UK Guidelines

Several companies have formed a new group to promote a balanced
discussion of alcoholic beverage consumption and address implementation
of U.K. labeling recommendations. The Alcohol Information
Partnership (AIP) reportedly plans to draw attention to research showing
that most adults consume alcohol responsibly and that binge drinking is
in decline. In addition, the companies behind the new initiative reportedly
plan to meet with the U.K. Department of Health before adopting its
voluntary guidelines, which, in part, ask labels to declare that there is “no
safe level” of alcoholic beverage consumption.

“Alcohol misuse is an incredibly serious issue,” said AIP Director-General
Dave Roberts. “As a society, we should continue to have rigorous debate
about how best we continue to tackle and reduce alcohol misuse. But the
debate has become increasingly imbalanced and characterized by poor
representation of the evidence… The Alcohol Information Partnership
is here to bring balance back to the debate and remind the public that
having a drink at home or in the pub can still be a part of a balanced lifestyle,
as long as it is drunk in moderation.” See The Wall Street Journal
and The Spirits Business, September 7, 2016.

Issue 617