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

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."

He was forced to defend the approach after six health groups pulled out of the alcohol strand on Monday, arguing the government was being too soft on the industry...