British inquiry into alcopop marketing

MR Jack Straw, the British Home Secretary, yesterday announced an inquiry into the drinks industry's attempts to curb the sale of alcohol to under 18s. The move follows growing concern over teenage consumption of "alcopops" - carbonated alcoholic drinks marketed to appeal to young adults. The industry has a code of practice on the naming, packaging and merchandising of alcoholic soft drinks. But the Port man Group, the industry's self regulating watchdog, has already acknowledged the need for further restrictions. Mr Straw said he had asked Mr George Howarth, junior Home Office minister, to look urgently at self regulation.

Shares in Bass, which makes Hooper's Hooch, the leading brand, fell 13p to 816p on the news.

Ms Jean Coussins, director of The Portman Group, said the majority of firms in the drinks industry abided by its code of conduct. "It must be remembered that the problem of underage misuse is not simply an alcopops problem," she said.

Last week the group called for the words "lemonade" and "cola" to be banned from alcopop bottles and urged tougher action to stop manufacturers using marketing designed to appeal to under 18s.

Some groups have been critical of the industry's self regulatory attempts. The Health Education Authority said: "Whatever the producers say, brightly coloured products, packaged to look like soft drinks and tasting like soft drinks clearly appeal to underage drinkers."

The association condemned the marketing of alcopops as an "insidious" health risk for the young.