Public Health Minister, Jane Ellison, has congratulated the drinks industry on its success in removing 1.3 billion units of alcohol from the UK market.
She was speaking at an event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, in partnership with the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Portman Group, marking the successful initiative which is part of the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal.
To show the range of innovative products now available, BBPA members provided a selection of lower-strength alcoholic beers, including Harveys R, Guinness Mid-Strength, Fosters Radler, Adnams Sole Star, Manns Brown Ale, Hook Norton Mild, Carling Zest, Carlsberg Citrus and Carlsberg Blackcurrant.
No-alcohol beers, Becks Blue, Cobra 0% and San Miguel 0%, were also showcased at the event, alongside some of the lower-strength house wines which are available Punch Taverns.
In congratulating the industry on its success in removing 1.3 billion units from the market, the Minister paid tribute in particular to the brewing industry, which removed 1.2 billion units alone.
She said: “It’s great that the British Beer & Pub Association has made progress by removing over a billion units of alcohol from the market over two years. And by promoting house wine at a lower ABV of 12.5% as standard, a healthier option is becoming more popular, and we are helping people who want to reduce their alcohol intake whilst still enjoying a drink.”
Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton on Trent and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, reminded guests of the importance of beer and pubs in society and how well the industry is working in with public health in mind.
David Paterson, of Heineken UK, and chairman of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, spoke on market insight into consumer demand for lower-alcohol beers, and Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group, highlighted unit reduction and its success as part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal.
