Corporate hospitality is not a bribe, says minister

Published: 30 March, 2011

Accepting corporate hospitality from suppliers will not put wine and spirits buyers in breach of the new Bribery Act, the government has stressed.

There has been some concern that the 2010 Act - which has yet to come into force - would criminalise the acceptance of tickets to sporting and cultural events, which is commonplace in the alcohol and hospitality industries.

But in the Commons this week justice minister Jonathan Djanogly reassured businesses that this would not be the case.

He said: "The issue of corporate hospitality will be covered in the guidance I will be publishing shortly under section nine of the Bribery Act about commercial organisations preventing bribery.

"This will make clear that corporate hospitality which seeks to improve the image of a commercial organisation, better to present products and services, or establish cordial relations, is recognised as an established and important part of doing business, and it is not the intention of the Act to criminalise such behaviour."

The Act will come into force three months after the guidance is published.

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