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Welcome
The Portman Group is the social responsibility body for alcohol producers.
We operate a strict Code of Practice to ensure alcohol is marketed responsibly and not in a way that might appeal to children. This Code applies to all pre-packaged alcohol sold or marketed in the UK. Since the Portman Group was set up in 1989, over 130 irresponsible products or promotions have been withdrawn.
We also offer a Code Advisory Service which last year alone answered 500 separate advice requests about responsible marketing.
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About us
About us
The Portman Group is supported by the UK´s leading drinks producers. We are concerned solely with the social responsibility issues surrounding alcohol. Our role is:
Our role is:
To regulate the promotion and packaging of alcoholic drinks sold or marketed in the UK through our Code of Practice.
To challenge and encourage the industry to market its products responsibly.
To show leadership on best practice in alcohol social responsibility through the actions of member companies.
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Code of Practice
Code of Practice
The Portman Group´s Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks was introduced in 1996. The Code, which is supported throughout the industry, seeks to ensure that drinks are marketed in a socially responsible way and to an adult audience only.
The fifth edition of the Code was announced on 9 November 2012 and will come into force in May 2013.
Click here to access a guide to the new rules and the changes to the fourth edition.
The Code applies to all pre-packaged alcoholic drinks and covers the drink´s naming, packaging, point-of-sale advertising, brand websites, sponsorship, branded merchandise, advertorials, press releases and sampling.
The Code has an open and accessible complaints system. Complaints under the Code are ruled on by an Independent Complaints Panel.
If a product is found in breach of the Code, a Retailer Alert Bulletin is issued, asking retailers not to stock the offending product unless and until it has been amended to comply with the Code.
We offer a fast, free and confidential Advisory Service to companies to help them comply with the Code.
Television, radio and non-broadcast advertisements are regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The Portman Group´s Code is consistent with the ASA´s rules.
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Code Consultation
Code Consultation
As part of the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal, the Portman Group is reviewing the alcohol industry’s Code of Practice on the responsible marketing of alcohol.
The Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks was first launched in 1996 and has undergone three reviews in that time. Since the last review in 2006, the marketing environment has undergone significant change including the rapid growth in social networking and use of digital media.
A full public consultation was launched in October 2011 which closed on 31 January 2012. A copy of the consultation document is available to download from the right hand side of this page.
We published our initial reponse to the Consultation together with Tonic Consultant´s independent analysis and all the individual reponses we received. You can read the independent analysis by Tonic Consultants.
On 9 November 2012 the Portman Group launched the fifth edition of the Code of Practice, which will come into full effect in May 2013. We also announced that we will be introducing a new, separate Sponsorship Code. This will require alcohol sponsors to ‘promote responsible drinking and / or supporting diversionary / community activities; taking into account the size, scale, reach, and length of the sponsorship’. We are also proposing a fast track process to enable us to work with complainants and producers to resolve some issues more quickly.
The revised Code will come into effect in May 2013 and we aim to publish the new Sponsorship Code in Summer 2013.
*LATEST NEWS*
Seeking industry views – March 2013
We are currently running two short technical industry consultations which close on 12 April 2013. In the first one, we are consulting alcohol producers and retailers on a revised complaints and enforcement process for the Portman Group Code. In the second, we are consulting alcohol producers, retailers and rights holders on a new sponsorship rule and associated guidance for the new Portman Group Sponsorship Code.
(Please note, we are seeking views from alcohol producers, retailers and rights holders only on these technical points - you can view the documents on the right hand side of this page.)
We will include best practice examples in the new Sponsorship Code guidance to show how companies can include ‘recognisable commitment’ to social responsibility in their sponsorship activities – if your company would like to contribute an example please complete the word template in Appendix C alongside.
For more information email us at consultation@portmangroup.org.uk
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Code Complaints
Code Complaints
If you have concerns about a product or its promotion, you may make a complaint to us under the Code.
Complaints are ruled on by an Independent Complaints Panel.
All decisions made by The Independent Complaints Panel are published on this website, in press releases and an Annual Code Report that we produce at the end of each year.
Read the latest complaints here
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Marketing Advice
Marketing Advice
Our Advisory Service provides fast, free and confidential advice on responsible marketing to drinks producers and their agencies. We give our expert opinion on whether marketing ideas meet the high standards set out in the Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks.
We have compiled several Help Notes on complex issues to guide producers. These Help Notes assist companies in complying with the Code.
The Code lays down a minimum marketing standard with which all companies in the industry are expected to comply. Many companies, however, including all the Portman Group's member companies, choose to go further than the Code's requirements to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility. Our Best Practice Guidelines provide comprehensive and authoritative advice to drinks producers on how they can be as responsible as possible and use brands pro-actively to inform and educate consumers about responsible drinking.
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Alcohol Labelling
Alcohol Labelling
As part of the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal UK alcohol companies have pledged to implement a health labelling scheme to better inform consumers about responsible drinking.
The scheme, which has been developed in conjunction with the UK Department of Health, involves the display of particular health-related advisory information on drinks containers. Under the Responsibility Deal, the industry has pledged to implement the scheme on 80 per cent of alcoholic drinks’ containers measured, by volume, in the UK off-trade by December 2013.
The Alcohol Labelling Compliance Guidelines and Monitoring Process can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page. A text version is available here.
You can also download a good practice example of a label layout from the right hand side of this page.
The Portman Group can provide advice and support for companies on compliance with the labelling criteria. Please email labelling@portmangroup.org.uk for advice.
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News and Views
News and Views
We communicate the work of the Portman Group, decisions of the Independent Complaints Panel and comment on relevant alcohol news stories and policy issues.
Our Press Office can be contacted on 020 7290 1463/1469/1460 or email shanratty@portmangroup.org.uk or drustecki@portmangroup.org.uk. We also operate an out of hours media service. Broadcast and print journalists wanting comments or interviews when the office is closed should call 07730 525 701 or 07850 773 689.
In this section, you will find:
Press releases and Letters to the Editor
Publications
Presentations
Responses to policy consultations
Portman Group Update newsletters
You can also register to receive the Portman Group Update - an email news service which keeps partners in industry, health professionals and lcohol charities informed of our work. also found here.
For the latest facts and information on alcohol visit our Alcohol Information section.
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Alcohol Information
Alcohol Information
The Portman Group is keen to ensure that the policy debate on alcohol is evidence-based. To this end, we keep abreast of the latest information concerning alcohol-related social issues.
Fact Sheets
These fact sheets, which are regularly updated, summarise the latest data from the most authoritative independent sources to give an accurate picture of the latest trends. The fact sheet entitled 'Summary of UK alcohol trends' gives an overview. The other fact sheets explain trends in particular areas in more detail.
Summary of UK alcohol trends
Per capita alcohol consumption
Drinking patterns
Alcohol and young people
Drinking and driving
Women's drinking
Alcohol-related deaths
Briefing Notes
Our briefing notes aim to provide in-depth analysis of the latest alcohol issues.
Alcohol marketing - impact and regulation in the UK
(For more information on a particular alcohol issue please email us direct.)
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Vacancies
Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Closing date: 5 June 2013
Purpose of job:
To provide policy, research, organisational and administrative support to the Chief Executive (CEO) and on occasion the wider senior management team.
Please download the Job Description and Application Pack on the right of this page.
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Proof of Age Scheme
Proof of Age Scheme
Sorry, the Portman Group no longer issues Proof of Age cards.
There are now several nationally recognised Proof of Age Cards.
Existing card holders should not be affected. Our card should still be recognised as a valid form of ID by retailers. However we do not issue updated cards. Any forms received after 1 October will be returned to applicants along with their application fees.
Young people looking to obtain a Proof of Age Card should consider alternative card schemes. These can be viewed at: http://www.pass-scheme.org.uk
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Contact us
Contact us
Our address:
The Portman Group
4th Floor,
20 Conduit Street,
London,
W1S 2XW
Our telephone numbers:
Switchboard
020 7290 1460
Code Advisory Service
020 7290 1460
email: advice@portmangroup.org.uk
General enquiries
email: info@portmangroup.org.uk
Press Office
020 7290 1463/1469/1460
email: shanratty@portmangroup.org.uk
email: drustecki@portmangroup.org.uk
Out of hours Press Office (for journalists only)
07730 525 701 / 07850 773 689
Follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/portmangroup
Make a complaint
If you would like to make a complaint about a product or promotional activity, please write to the Secretary to The Independent Complaints Panel, The Portman Group, 4th Floor, 20 Conduit Street, London,
W1S 2XW or email complaints@portmangroup.org.uk
Proof of Age Cards
Proof of age cards are no longer issued or renewed by the Portman Group so please contact:
http://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/
Educational materials
If you would like to order responsible drinking publicity material, contact Drinkaware on 020 7766 9900 or email: rwalker@drinkaware.co.uk
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