Ethics Policy

Our Commitment

Booze.co.uk is committed to ethical, accountable journalism for the UK alcohol trade. We are operated by Alcohol Ltd (trading as www.alcohol.co.uk), a company registered in England and Wales, and we are regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

We apply the Editors' Code of Practice to our editorial material. Editors, staff journalists, external contributors, and non-journalist contributors working on our editorial content are expected to observe the Code rigorously.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial decisions are made independently of advertisers, commercial partners, and paid press release customers. We do not accept payment for editorial coverage, and advertisers cannot buy endorsement or favourable newsroom treatment.

Opinion, analysis, and comment are clearly distinguished from straight news reporting. We distinguish comment, conjecture and fact, and our headlines must be supported by the text they introduce.

Paid Press Releases

Press releases are paid commercial material supplied by advertisers. They are labelled prominently as paid press releases or advertisement features and sit outside our editorial policy. They are not commissioned, reported, or edited as independent Booze.co.uk journalism.

We review paid releases for legality, age suitability, disclosure, and basic publication quality, but payment never buys editorial endorsement or coverage in our newsroom.

Conflicts of Interest

Journalists and editors must disclose personal, financial, or commercial interests that could create a conflict. Staff must not report on companies in which they or close family members have a significant financial interest unless the editor has approved the assignment and any necessary disclosure.

We do not accept gifts, hospitality, or inducements that could compromise editorial integrity. Attendance at industry events for reporting purposes is handled transparently where disclosure is relevant to the reader.

Privacy, Vulnerability, and Harassment

We respect private and family life, health information, correspondence, and digital communications. Intrusion into private life must be justified by a clear editorial reason and, where relevant, a proportionate public interest.

We must not engage in intimidation, harassment, or persistent pursuit. Journalists must identify themselves when requested, stop questioning or contacting someone when asked to desist unless there is a legitimate and proportionate reason, and leave property when asked.

If IPSO issues a privacy notice, we circulate it promptly to relevant editorial staff and take it into account when deciding whether further contact, coverage, or publication could raise Code issues, particularly where vulnerable people are involved.

Children and Sensitive Cases

Children under 16 must not be interviewed or photographed about their own or another child's welfare without consent from a legally responsible adult or similarly responsible adult. Pupils should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion.

We take particular care with reporting involving grief or shock, suicide, crime, hospitals, sexual offences, and victims of sexual assault. Approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion, and publication must avoid unjustified identification, stigma, or unnecessary detail.

Discrimination and Language

We avoid prejudicial or pejorative references to an individual's race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness, or disability. Such details are included only when genuinely relevant to the story.

Responsible Alcohol Reporting

This website is intended for adults aged 18 and over only. Our content is designed for trade professionals, industry analysts, and adults with a legitimate interest in the UK alcohol industry. We do not target readers under the legal drinking age.

We do not glamorise excessive alcohol consumption and include appropriate health messaging where relevant. For support with alcohol-related concerns, we recommend contacting Drinkaware or calling Drinkline on 0300 123 1110.

Concerns and Complaints

If you have concerns about our ethical standards or a possible breach of the Editors' Code of Practice, use our report inaccuracy page or email corrections@booze.co.uk. If you are dissatisfied after using our complaints process, you may contact IPSO.