Drinks industry ‘allowed to target young people with ads’

THE drinks industry is playing far too big a role in shaping alcohol policy, allowing it to produce advertising that targets very young people, an international conference has been told.

Jillian van Turnhout, an Irish member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), accused the industry of orchestrating a campaign to destroy the prestigious body’s report – a report that will help shape EU policy.

“This was a David and Goliath battle, and we overcame the might of the alcohol industry,” she told the expert conference in Stockholm where she was guest speaker.