Complaints to Portman Code hit record level

The Portman Group’s Annual Code Report revealed that 21 complaints were made during 2008, eight of these were upheld by the Independent Complaints Panel. 

It reported that 10 of these complaints followed an audit of the code compliance carried out by PIPC, an independent management consultancy, which analysed a random sample of 485 drinks against the Portman Group’s code.

David Poley, Portman Group chief executive, said: “This audit may have been unpopular with a few companies but robust, independent auditing is important.  It is one of the reasons why the government stopped short of extending the mandatory retail Code to drinks producers.”

The report also revealed that the number of companies turning to the Portman Group for confidential pre-market advice also continued to rise. Advice was given on 250 occasions over the year which included several instances of unsolicited advice, it said.

A copy of the Portman Group’s 2008 Annual Code Report can be viewed here.

The code of practice prohibits packaging that incites consumers to drink quickly or unduly emphasises a drink’s alcohol content. There must also be no association with illegal drugs, sexual success, bravado or violence.

Portman Group member companies include: Bacardi-Martini, Beverage Brands, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg UK, Coors Brewers, Diageo, InBev UK, Pernod Ricard UK and Scottish & Newcastle.

Popular Articles