More than 170 companies - including the leading supermarket chains - have signed up to the "responsibility deal" to encourage healthier lifestyles.

09:54 alcohol and health at work. , food , voluntary agreements for England cover four themes - physical activity 0 Comments

More than 170 companies - including the leading supermarket chains - have signed up to the "responsibility deal" to encourage healthier lifestyles.

The full details will be unveiled later, but pledges on calorie counts on menus and clearer labelling on drinks are expected to be made.

The voluntary agreements for England cover four themes - physical activity, food, alcohol and health at work.

Ministers said the approach would achieve more than legislation could.

They will highlight the agreement to ensure 80% of alcoholic drinks carry labels about the number of units they contain by 2013. At the moment just 15% do.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the responsibility deal, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Industry has agreed to take action on a voluntary basis.

"The alternative is to use legislation and this means taking the EU route, which could take years. We want to do more at greater speed."