UK drinks companies were yesterday on the defensive after a public body charged with monitoring drug usage called on the government to introduce controls over the sponsorship of music events by alcohol brands. The Advisory Council On The Misuse Of Drugs claimed that alcohol branding and adverts at music venues was a contributing factor in an increase in drinking amongst young people.
However, drinks companies yesterday disputed those claims, while pointing out that several major music events could not happen without their sponsorship. A spokesman for InBev, whose Tennents brand is synonymous with Scottish music festival T In The Park, said any ban on alcohol advertising or sponsorship would make little difference in the campaign against binge drinking, while adding that many British cultural events could not happen "if drinks companies didn't provide funding". They also said that, despite the ACMD's calls for controls, they were confident "more forward-thinking" government advisors recognised that sponsorship could "be used to try and educate people about the responsible use of alcohol".
Meanwhile, Mean Fiddler boss Melvin Benn, whose Reading and Leeds festivals are sponsored by lager brand Carling of course, also criticised the ACMD's claims. He told reporters: "'It would appear that the government have not got enough to do. Carling have been sponsors of Leeds and Reading for nine years with no downside on the state of the nation as I see it."
We did head out to various music events around the country last night to find out what gig goers thought about all this, but they were all too pissed on Tennents and Carling to form any coherent opinions.