Professor Robin Room, a professor at the University of Stockholm and director of the Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs in Stockholm, Sweden, was concerned by the recent appointment of Jean Coussins, chief executive of the Portman Group. The group was set up in 1989 by UK drinks producers, and its main aim was “to promote responsible drinking.” Ms Coussins was appointed by the secretary of state for culture, the government department that oversees the work of the AERC.
The AERC aims to increase awareness of alcohol issues, facilitate a reduction in alcohol related harm in society, and encourage best practice. To achieve these aims, it funds research, education, and training for people working on issues related to alcohol.
It was established in 1982 to administer the Alcohol Education and Research Fund, a charitable foundation established with assets from a levy on public houses that was originally designed to compensate owners who lost their licences because of a decision early in the 20th century to reduce the number of pubs. Because of this derivation of the money, three members of the board of the AERC have always been nominated by the alcohol industry.
Professor Room said that up to now this arrangement had seemed unproblematic. However, he considered that the appointment of Ms Coussins—who replaces one of the current industry representatives—was potentially a problem because of the Portman Group's lobbying role and previous stance on alcohol research. He said: “The Portman Group had taken a relatively confrontational line towards alcohol research which does not fit its preferred view of the world.” He noted that the group had been exposed in 1995 for offering money to scholars for negative views on a World Health Organization report, Alcohol Policy and the Public Good .
Professor Room continued: “In my view, an organisation which has taken such a partisan position specifically on research findings should not be on the board of a semigovernmental organisation which is supporting alcohol research with public money.” He added: “If a Portman Group staff member remains on the AERC board, it will severely compromise the AERC's reputation and capacity to function as a scientific funding body operating in the public interest.”
Professor Griffith Edwards, emeritus professor of addiction at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, and editor of Addiction , agreed: “Jean Coussins is not a representative of the brewing industry but of a lobby group. The Portman Group has lobbied government intensively on behalf of the drinks industry, arguing that it is not drinking that matters, but drunkenness.”
“They have advocated education (which doesn't work) and voluntary codes of practice (which are difficult to enforce). They have also put out grossly misleading statements saying that there is no scientific evidence for a public health approach to alcohol use. For an organisation committed to traducing science to be on a grant giving body seems a step too far.” He considered that the appointment would damage the reputation of the council.
Dr Noel Olsen, chairman of the council, said: “The debate on whether industry should be represented [on the AERC's board] needs to be aired. I will advise the council that we need to talk to the government departments we work with and alcohol organisations to reach a view on what is right.”
He is raising the issue of whether it is right for industry to have seats on the council, and whether the Portman Group is an appropriate group to be represented on the council. This discussion will take place over the next few months. He added: “The government strategy—rightly or wrongly—has decided that their alcohol strategy will be a partnership between industry, government, and alcohol organisations.”
The Portman Group claimed on its website that it was a principal provider of responsible drinking advice in the United Kingdom and supported the government, media, industry, and consumers with research, educational materials, and campaigns. Ms Coussins was unable to comment on her appointment to the council, other than to confirm that it had been made.