UK Wine Show 152 Michael Thompson on the Portman Group

This show was published Friday, April 17, 2009

Overview

The Portman Group regulates the UK drinks industry to encourage and challenge producers to promote their products responsibly. We talk with Michael Thompson, head of communications and external affairs.

The group works with its member companies on their social responsibility campaigning and trys to show leadership to the rest of the industry. It also speak on behalf of member companies on issues such as excessive and harmful drinking. The Portman Group established the Drinkaware Trust which is now the main source of consumer information on responsible drinking in the UK and has made a real difference to consumer behaviour. The 9 member companies are Diageo, Scottish & Newcastle, Pernod, Coors, Carlsberg, Beverage Brands, Bacardi Martini, Brown-Forman and In-Bev.

In 1996 The Portman Group established the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks following the controversy in the mid-1990s surrounding ready-to-drink products (alcopops) and the marketing towards under-18s. Consumer complaints are made to The Independent Complaints Panel, not to The Portman Group. More recently the group has introduced a code regarding 'rapid' or 'down-in-one' drinking.

For more information visit www.portman-group.org.uk

Subscribe

Using XML subscription or through the iTunes Store

Sponsorship

The UK Wine Show is sponsored by ThirtyFifty. Our team of wine tasters are busy entertaining and educating UK consumers to help them get the most out of wine.

Music

The music used for the UK Wine Show is Griffes de Jingle 1 by Marcel de la Jartèle and Silence by Etoile Noire.