LWF: WSTA's chief warns of uncertainty ahead for trade

By Erin Smith

Published: 09 May, 2016

At the London Wine Fair 2016 held last week at Kensington Olympia, chief executive officer of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) warned the trade may face some challenges in the year ahead following the Chief Medical Officer's revised guidelines for alcohol consumption.

The g uidelines blindsided the drinks trade in January, which were produced without an engagement or consultation with the industry.

"That is why the Government's Chief Medical Officer's announcement at the beginning of the year - without any consultation - was so bitterly disappointing. The drinks industry was not invited to take part in the review of the CMO guidelines nor were we given any time to prepare for the announcement. That this isn't a good way to make policy," said Miles Beale, the CEO of the WSTA.

More worrying perhaps is that much of the work that was done voulataitly by the trade to meet the current guidelines which were developed cooperatively are now no longer relevant and information on labels for example may soon be out of date.

Beale explained: "Overnight information given voluntarily by the industry outlining the previous CMO advice on over 80% products was obsolete. It was only through the work of the WSTA that the Department of Health realised, to their embarrassment, that they needed to issue advice to enforcement agencies to take no action regarding information on labels which was out of date."

What it means for the future of the trade at the moment is uncertain. "The lack of foresight, inadequate process and lack of scrutiny of the evidence, especially on risk is unacceptable and untenable," he said.

With the EU referendum vote at the top of the political agenda, the likelihood of any recommendation coming from Government anytime in the near future is a gamble. This is particularly challenging as many producers look to the WSTA for guidance on what needs to be put on labels for the coming year.

"Ironically the inaction by government leaves the industry in limbo and also threatens undermining the progress, cooperation and goodwill generated over recent years. Worse still it undermines the prospect of achieving continued behaviour change among problem drinkers. And yet we are unlikely to see the Government's response to the consultation on the revised guidelines until July at the earliest. Just how much ground will be lost is unclear, but this will be a significant challenge over the coming year," said Beale.

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