It's important to think about how your purchasing behaviour will benefit drinks' firms whose ethics may or may not be as good spirited as the products they promote.

We look at the spirit producers which might give you an ethical hangover.

The report includes:

• ethical and environmental ratings for 10 brands of gin
• Best Buy recommendations
• details about the alcohol industry lobby group which opposes a ban on alcohol adverts before the 9pm watershed
• how companies get around advertising restrictions
• which company only produces organic spirits
• how companies are targetting new markets in developing countries
• whether companies are sourcing ethically

Back in 2004, we criticised industry organisations such as the UK-based Portman Group, which claim to promote responsible alcohol consumption. We argued then that they also lobbied for less regulation of the industry's advertising. The Portman Group's latest Code of Practice discourages the promotion of alcohol to under 18s, "irresponsible" and "immoderate" consumption, and "any suggestion that drinking can lead to social success or popularity". However, the Portman Group recently voiced its opposition to a ban on adverts for alcohol before the 9pm watershed proposed by the UK organisation Alcohol Concern...

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