RINGWOOD-based charity the British Liver Trust and five other leading health organisations have accused the government of allowing the drinks industry to dictate health policy.

The six have refused to sign up as partners to a “responsibility deal” aimed at reducing the harm caused by alcohol misuse in the UK.

Under the deal, the industry would be asked to sign up to a number of pledges on alcohol. These include making sure 80 per cent of products on the shelf are labelled for unit content; raising awareness of the unit content of drinks in pubs and clubs; and taking action to cut underage drinking.

There would also be a pledge to promote responsible drinking through advertising and marketing and keep alcohol advertisements away from schools.

But Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said previous voluntary agreements had not worked and there was no indication what steps would be taken if targets were not met.

“The alcohol industry has in the past, and still has, too much clout in formulating alcohol policy. The clear outcome – rising liver deaths – is ignored and disregarded,” she said.

“For more than 10 years we have been persuaded to play the long game, sitting and watching the alcohol industry cultivate their relationship with the government.

“Now it must stop for the sake of the 100 families losing loved ones each week from alcohol-related liver disease.”

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “By allowing the drinks industry to propose such half-hearted pledges on alcohol with no teeth, this government has clearly shown that when it comes to public health, its first priority is to side with big business and protect private profit.”

The liver death rate in the UK is more than double that of Australia and the Netherlands.

Health experts recently warned the government that up to 250,000 extra lives could be lost in England and Wales over the next 20 years unless tighter restrictions on alcohol are introduced.