Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship Forum commended

17 December 2014

Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship Forum commended for common sense

Alcohol Healthwatch commends the members of the Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship for listening to the evidence put forward by experts and community groups on the impact of alcohol advertising on drinking behaviour.

“It is pleasing to see the Forum agrees that the level of young people’s exposure to alcohol advertising is unacceptable and has followed this common sense with some bold recommendations that will contribute to protecting our young people,” says Alcohol Healthwatch Acting Director Christine Rogan.

While the Forum has gone some way to addressing the Law Commission’s recommendations from 2010, Alcohol Healthwatch says that, unfortunately, the impact of advertising and sponsorship goes much further and affects all age groups.

“Twenty five percent of New Zealand drinkers over 15 years of age drink in a hazardous way and would benefit greatly from bolder reforms such as those Alcohol Healthwatch recommended to the Forum earlier this year. These focused on the banning all forms of alcohol advertising in all media other than objective advertising,” Ms Rogan said.

“These recommendations , if implemented, will go some way to reduce the negative influence on alcohol on impressionable young people, but don't go as far as addressing the impact the intense normalisation of alcohol in society which encourages drinking across the population.

“One only needs to see the bombardment of alcohol advertising at this time of year to recognise how pervasive such advertising is.”

She says Alcohol Healthwatch is also disappointed that the report has not adequately addressed the difficult area of social media, particularly with this being the major channel for the alcohol industry’s marketing efforts.

“However, these recommendations along with the opportunities in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 will greatly improve our current alcohol fuelled environment. We hope the recommendations don't get watered down with further input from vested interests.

“The World Health Organization has made it clear that there is no role for alcohol industry representatives at the public health policy table and we hope that that this is instituted into the process going forward.

“It is now up to Government to support the recommendations decisively and without further delay.”

Further information: www.ahw.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media