MPs to call for curbs on alcohol advertising to under 18s
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A group of influential MPs is expected to call for a ban on alcohol advertising seen by under-18s in a bid to curb alcohol abuse among young people.
According to reports, the cross-party Health Committee is pushing for a rule to stipulate that alcohol should not be advertised in any media where the audience is likely to contain a minimum of 10% of under-18s.
It is understood the suggestion will be included in a report due out next month that follows a seven month inquiry into alcohol misuse.
It is believed the Committee will also call for a ban on the sponsorship of music or sport events by alcohol brands when they are likely to be seen by an audience containing at least 10% of people too young to drink.
It is also understood the Committee will urge the Government to consider a minimum price, for example, 50p,per unit of alcohol in a bid to curb binge drinking.
The call mirrors those from the British Medical Association and the Scottish Government, both of which have called for minimum pricing. However, Gordon Brown and the Conservative Party oppose such as move.
The Committee’s report is also believed to criticise supermarkets for selling alcohol cheaply and calls for low-alcohol drinks to be taxed less to encourage consumption of low-strength wines and beers.
Reports say the 120-page report will be published on 7 January. A spokeswoman for the Committee declined to comment.
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Readers' comments (5)
Andrew Kemp | Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:29 am
Who decides what will be 10% or less?? So if i go to a Girls Aloud concert there is no alcohol sponsorship or advertising... but the rolling stones, that’s fine?? Just doesn't add up really that you can discriminate on adverts based on the make up of the audience, its like channel 5 saying they won't let Waitrose advertise... What next? No computer advertising if a event has less the 10% degree educated people in it??
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Pete | Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:48 am
Andrew how can you say it's a bad thing to ban advertising/sponsorship of alcohol to under eighteens? Of course sponsorship is more suitable for a rolling stones gig than a girls aloud one - I would hope that's pretty obvious!
It should not be too difficult to gather data on the ages of people who are attending an event and then use that to decide whether alcohol should be allowed to be promoted.
Anyway I think it's a good idea but 10% seems a little low as wouldn't events such as the reading and leeds festival sponsored by carling come under that, as quite a few families go to it. Something higher like 25% would be more practical.
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simon hinks | Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:54 pm
I may be oldish but I seem to remember when all alcohol advertising on TV had been banned.
Should we be looking back to remind ourselves why it was banned then and what had we learnt from those times.
It seems to me people have very short memories.
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Anonymous | Mon, 14 Dec 2009 6:47 pm
great idea simon. let's bring back prohibition as well, seeing as that worked such a treat.
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A Benson | Sat, 6 Feb 2010 9:21 pm
Hi Anonymous, Like Mr Simon Hinks, I share the view with the majority in the UK. Adverts should be watershed, consumption in moderation, landlords and club owners responsible, supermarkets banned from selling alcohol. Anonymous was looking for balance, showing your age Mr Hinks
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