MPs to warn: Alcohol industry in the "last chance saloon" The Coalition introduced the "Responsbility Deal" in an attempt to persuade the food and drink industry to make voluntary changes to support healthy habits rather than be forced to meet stringent requirements. However, many critics were sceptical about what motive businesses would have to reduce intake of the products they sell, or to produce a healthier version. The committee's report is expected to say that while the food industry has made some significant changes, such as the introduction of clearer labelling, action by alcohol manufacturers has been limited. During hearings, MPs were sceptical about examples given by the drinks industry of progress made since the deal, such as plans by one company to reduce the strength of a premium lager by 0.2 per cent. MPs said a person would need to drink 25 pints before the change made any impact to the number of units that they drank. Evidence submitted to the inquiry says that alcohol costs almost 15,000 lives in Britain a year, and is the leading cause of deaths among young men. Department of Health evidence found teenage girls in Britain are more likely to be binge drinkers than those anywhere else in Europe. More than half of girls aged 15 and 16 say they drink to excess at least once a month, making the UK one of the few countries in the EU where girls binge-drink more than boys of the same age. The paper said alcohol costs the UK economy more than £21billion a year, including £3.5 billion to the NHS. Costs to the health service have risen by 30 per cent in just three years following a rise in the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions. In evidence submitted to the inquiry, 30 leading medical bodies and charities also called for a total ban on advertising for alcohol on television. 15The groups said Britain's "alcohol problem" has become so entrenched that drastic action - which would also include an end to sponsorship of sporting events - is required to protect children and teenagers.