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Call for ban on TV alcohol adverts
A joint submission from 31 organisations has called for the end to alcohol sponsorship of sporting events and better regulation of TV alcohol adverts to protect children from alcohol marketing.
The alliance, which includes the British Medical Association, the Institute of Alcohol Studies and eight royal colleges, has submitted a paper to the House of Commons health select committee’s inquiry into the Government’s alcohol strategy, which was published earlier this year.
Their submission welcomes the introduction of a minimum price per unit but says more should be done to protect children from alcohol marketing.
It proposes that the UK follow France by banning advertisements to any audience which might include a significant proportion of children and young people. Under the French system, this means adverts for alcohol cannot be shown at all on television, and can only be shown in cinemas with films with an 18 certificate.
UK broadcast regulations state that commercials for beer, wine and spirits cannot be aired during shows watched predominantly by children.
If the demands of the alliance are met, they would have a major impact not just on TV advertising but also on sport sponsorship. In France, sponsorship of all cultural activities is banned. Earlier this year, the Irish government committed to phasing out all alcohol sponsorship of sports events, as well as a ban on outdoor advertising.
This could have a major ramifications in the UK as high profile sporting events are already sponsored by alcohol companies. Carlsberg is currently sponsoring Euro 2012 and later this summer Heineken will sponsor the Olympics.
Approximately £800 million a year is spent on alcohol and sponsorship deals in the UK. Less than one third of it is spent on television advertising, with the remainder spent on sports promotions, music festivals and internet promotions.
The WSTA has reacted to the joint submission by telling the drinks business, “The UK already has some of the strictest rules on alcohol advertising and marketing in the world. The Government’s Alcohol Strategy supports continued self-regulation in this area and as part of the Responsibility Deal, the industry has committed to further voluntary action, including the development of a new sponsorship code.”