UK - Government Consultation: Safe, Sensible, Social

3 December 2008. UK Government officials have announced new measures to tackle irresponsible retailing practice such as 'happy hours' and 'buy one get one free' promotions. The measures will be delivered through a new code of practice that retailers will be legally obliged to comply with following findings that the existing voluntary code was widely flouted.

Although the new mandatory code is yet to be produced, a Home Office/ Department of Health press release

announced key measures were to include:

banning offers like 'all you can drink for £10'

ensuring that customers in supermarkets are not required to buy very large amounts of a product to take advantage of price discounts

ensuring staff selling alcohol are properly trained

requiring that consumers are able to see unit content of all alcohol when they buy it

requiring bars and pubs to have the minimum sized glasses available for customers who want them

It was also announced that local government and police partnerships are being given £3.5M to tackle alcohol-related problems with an extra £1.5M being given to high priority areas to assist with tackling under-age sales and communication campaigns.

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The full consultation report, detailing responses and feedback from agencies and the public on the the new code and measures can be found here