The Portman Group 
Focus - Message on a Bottle: How Drinkaware is Helping Alcohol Education
5 August 2010
Over the past two years, the name Drinkaware has become a familiar feature on drinks labels in the UK. Drinkaware’s chief executive Chris Sorek spoke with Ben Cooper about what the industry-sponsored alcohol education charity does.
UK: Portman Group offers digital ad training
13 July 2010
The Portman Group will run free training sessions to help the alcoholic drinks industry get up-to-speed with responsible online advertising ahead of tighter regulations.
UK: Drinks sector split on below-cost sales ban
9 July 2010
Drinks industry leaders in the UK believe that the Government has underestimated the complexity of a ban on below-cost alcohol sales, amid growing division within the sector on how the policy should work.
UK: Online drinks adverts face tougher checks
8 July 2010
The UK Government's advertising watchdog is set to enforce stricter rules for online marketing by the alcoholic drinks industry.
Comment - Portman Group takes a wrong turn
11 May 2010
The Portman Group has undermined efforts to promote responsible drinking by allowing companies to sell 14% abv alcohol in shot-sized test-tubes.
UK: Portman Group clears test-tube drinks
11 May 2010
The UK drinks industry's self-regulatory body, The Portman Group, has cleared the sale of alcoholic drinks in test-tubes in the country, rejecting complaints that the practice is irresponsible.
UK: Portman Group takes action over Yegaar labelling
23 March 2010
The UK's Portman Group is to take action against a drink it claims leaves consumers guessing whether it contains alcohol or not.
UK: Government sets out product placement rules
9 February 2010
The UK government has confirmed that it will maintain a ban on the placement of branded alcohol and soft drinks high in sugar in television programmes.
UK: Alcohol product placement set for scrapheap
5 February 2010
Plans to allow alcoholic drinks firms to pay to have their products visible in television programmes look set to be scrapped.
UK: Portman Group rejects "slur" on drinks industry
21 January 2010
The Portman Group, the drinks industry's self-regulatory body, has rejected a "slur" on the sector by the author of an article in the British Medical Journal.
UK: Portman Group urges caution over product placement
7 January 2010
The relaxing of product placement rules for television could undermine controls on alcohol marketing in the UK, according to the Portman Group.
UK: Portman Group bans Cornish cider brand
10 December 2009
A UK cider brand will be pulled from shop shelves after being labelled as irresponsible by the drinks industry's self-regulatory body.
UK: Brewdog Tokyo* beer banned by watchdog
3 December 2009
Scottish brewer BrewDog’s controversial Tokyo* beer has been banned from bars, clubs and shops across the UK by the Portman Group, the drinks industry's self-regulatory body.
UK: BrewDog buys first pub
30 October 2009
Scottish brewer BrewDog has bought its first pub, located in Aberdeen, for an undisclosed fee.
UK: Portman Group publishes digital marketing guidance
26 October 2009
The Portman Group, the UK drinks industry self regulatory body, has issued guidance to help alcohol producers avoid inadvertently targeting underage consumers through digital marketing.
UK: BrewDog welcomes former Skyy Spirits execs, launches share sale
21 October 2009
BrewDog has announced the arrival of two US investors, and the launch of a share sale to raise equity.
UK: Future gloom for test-tube drinks? Portman Group rules
14 October 2009
A ruling by the Portman Group's complaints panel in the UK has thrown the future of test-tube drink producers into doubt.
UK: Food Commission calls for tougher advert rules in cinemas
12 October 2009
The Food Commission has said it would like to see a system introduced that linked advertising restrictions on drinks ads to film ratings.
UK: Portman Group promotes drinks marketing code
28 September 2009
You have to be, and look, 25 to be shown drinking in any alcohol marketing, according to The Portman Group.
UK: Alcohol debate becoming polarised - trade chief
16 September 2009
Campaign groups seeking ever greater extremes are distorting the debate over how to tackle excess drinking in the UK, the head of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association has warned.
UK: JD Wetherspoon hails real ale revival
11 September 2009
JD Wetherspoon, the UK pub chain, has become the latest to report rising demand for real ale over the last 12 months, and is to continue pushing the beers in the coming fiscal year.
UK: Doctors call for hardline stance on alcohol
8 September 2009
A ban on alcohol advertising, shorter licensing hours, minimum prices and a tax on the industry to fund education on alcohol abuse are four key measures needed to tackle excess drinking in the UK, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.
UK: BrewDog faces Portman Group investigation
18 August 2009
Scottish brewer BrewDog is facing another investigation by the Portman Group after complaints were filed over its 18.2% Tokyo* beer.
UK: Portman Group appoints external chairman
14 August 2009
The UK’s leading drinks manufacturers have appointed Seymour Fortescue as the first non-industry chairman of self-regulatory body the Portman Group.
just the answer – United Spirits
4 June 2009
Like prominent Indian companies in many sectors, spirits producer United Spirits India has not only benefited from the rapid development of its domestic market but is also expanding its own international horizons. In this month’s just the answer, Chris Mercer spoke with United Spirits' president Vijay Rekhi.
UK: Portman Group sides with Greene King over "immoderate consumption" claim
28 May 2009
The Portman Group has ruled in favour of a brewer following a complaint from a member of the public in the UK.
UK: Portman Group orders removal of 247 Enterprises' Rampant TT
16 April 2009
A UK-based drinks company has been slammed by the Portman Group for breaching the group's code of practice in the country.
just the round-up - The week in drinks
13 March 2009
The top ten stories published on just-drinks this week:
UK: Portman forces Alcohol Brand’s ‘Baby’ drinks to re-brand
11 March 2009
Two UK drinks containing vodka are being forced to re-brand following a complaint under the Portman Group’s code of practice.
Comment - BrewDog heads rise of small brewers
4 March 2009
Scottish microbrewer BrewDog has emerged unscathed from a lengthy battle with the drinks industry's self-regulatory body to buck bad times for the UK beer market.
Related research
Alcoholic Drinks Labelling - UK - March 2010
The report focuses on the role that labelling plays in enhancing product packaging in terms of on-shelf appeal and providing product information.
Alcoholic Drink Packaging and Labelling - UK - February 2008
Alcoholic drinks packaging and labelling encompasses a vast spectrum of sectors and issues. Premiumisation is driving growth in alcohol sales and propelling innovation in packaging and labelling. Environmental legislation and drinking-related health concerns offer opportunities and threats to the packaging sector, with labelling at the forefront of communicating proactive NPD. Mintel has identified the following themes as representative of current areas of interest for consumers and the industry: *Impact of new regulations on drinks labelling. *Increasingly important role of packaging and labelling in providing both on-shelf appeal and advertising messages. *Packaging-related environmental issues and their role in boosting innovation. *Premiumisation as the saviour of drinks packaging and labelling, driven by increasing gift occasions, interest in provenance and, to a lesser extent, gimmicks. *How the demand for convenience is driving the innovation in packaging.
Gin, White Rum and Other White Spirits - UK - March 2009
Sales of gin and other white spirits have grown by 5% in value and volume since 2003, fuelled by growth at the budget and premium ends of the market, to over 46 million litres valued at £1.2 billion in 2008.
