EDINBURGH University is to be provided with up to #500,000 core

funding for two senior research posts in alcohol studies, as part of an

initiative by the drinks industry to tackle alcohol misuse.

One research post will be held by Dr Martin Plant, director of the

Edinburgh Alcohol Research Group, who has almost 20 years experience in

the fields of sociological and medical research. The second post will be

held by John Duffy, lecturer in statistics.

The establishment of the body backing them, the Portman Group, headed

by former Westminster School headmaster Dr John Rae, has been welcomed

by Sir Geoffrey Howe, who leads the ministerial group that co-ordinates

Government action on alcohol misuse. The group is funded by seven drinks

companies, including Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, Guinness, and

International Distillers and Vintners.

The researchers will work independently of the group and will not

require approval to undertake studies or publish research findings.

At the same time, the group has commissioned Dr Peter Marsh, senior

lecturer in social psychology at Oxford Polytechnic, to carry out an

18-month study into drink and disorder, focusing on ways to tackle the

''lager lout'' problem.

A nationwide voluntary ''proof of age'' card scheme has been launched

to help public house licensees and their staff to enforce the law on

under-age drinking more effectively, and a comprehensive video training

package for licensees has been introduced to provide skills and

techniques for dealing with problems such as aggressive customers and

drunken driving.

At the launch of the initiative in London, Dr Rae said that when he

was approached to head the group he asked to be convinced of the honesty

of its objectives.

''I am convinced they were entirely honest,'' he said. ''The threat to

the industry is more serious than to you or me, because it has more at

stake. And alcohol misuse is too important an issue to be left to

pressure groups. It requires direct action.''

He believes the key to responsible drinking lies in the education of

the young. A communication package aimed at young people is being

planned for 1990.