Press releases
14/12/2006 : A new step in Pernod Ricard responsible drinking policy
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Paris, 14 December 2006 – Pernod Ricard launches a new initiative in its responsible drinking policy by setting new communication rules which exceed current regulatory requirements. Extension of the warning to pregnant women across Europe Pernod Ricard will extend the display of a warning to pregnant women on all bottles of wine and spirits sold by the Group to all European Union countries. The warning symbol is already compulsory in France but not in other EU countries. It highlights the risk to pregnant women of consuming alcoholic drinks and will progressively be added to the back label of all products in the Pernod Ricard range, in a visible and clear manner, from the first half of 2007, and as label stocks are depleted. This initiative is very much in keeping with the policy on alcohol consumption recently adopted by the European Commission. Addition of a sensible consumption message in international advertising The Group also decided to add, to its new international advertising campaigns, a sensible drinking or prevention message adapted to local situations and authorised media*. Today, advertising for alcoholic drinks is generally controlled by law or comes under self-disciplinary codes adopted by the industry. In a number of countries however, there is total freedom of communication and these are the countries where Pernod Ricard decided to apply the same rules requiring responsible advertising of its products. These two initiatives will be added to those already in place Internationally, the Group has already established an Internal Evaluation Committee to assess new advertising campaigns and scrupulously ensure that communication to the general public which may reflect enjoyment nonetheless discourages excessive and inappropriate consumption. During the last financial year, 50 campaigns were submitted to this Committee: three were amended and two were turned down. The Group has made Road Safety one of the major thrusts of its corporate responsibility policy, as testified by the mobilisation of its sales force in France for the application of the Road Safety Charter agreed with public authorities, preventative measures on drink-driving implemented in China, in particular in partnership with the Chinese Road Safety Authority and the Public Police of Shanghai, and the recent TV communication campaign of our Domecq foundation in Mexico “You either drink or drive”. Finally, Pernod Ricard is a major participant in professional organisations assisting health authorities and local government in implementing policies preventing excessive and inappropriate alcohol consumption, with a particular emphasis on pregnant women, drink driving and young people’s consumption habits including such Group as Entreprise & Prévention in France, Portman Group in the UK, Fundacion Alcohol y Sociedad in Spain, MEAS in Ireland... * In particular: billposting, TV, cinema, press…
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