MP seeking curbs on booze ads
STRICT curbs on alcohol advertising are being sought by a South Devon GP-turned-MP to tackle the 'carnage' wrought by binge drinking among youngsters.
Totnes MP Dr Sarah Wollaston is seeking to bring in a new law which would restrict the marketing of booze to adult audiences only.
Loopholes in the current regulations meant children were 'bombarded' with adverts for alcohol which the Tory MP argued led young people to start drinking at an earlier age and in greater quantity.
Dr Wollaston insisted her Alcohol Marketing Bill, which she is presenting to Parliament today, is not a bid to ban alcohol advertising completely but to ensure it is not promoted to children.
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She said: "Two young people die every day as a result of alcohol in the UK and this carnage is just the tip of the iceberg.
"We have a binge-drinking culture and the resulting antisocial behaviour and serious health problems cost dearly.
"There is no simple solution but one aspect of this complex problem could be addressed by measures similar to those adopted in France to protect children from alcohol marketing.
"There is good evidence that this volume of advertising leads to children starting to drink earlier and drinking more when they do. I would propose stating where advertisers can market alcohol and restricting this to adult environments such as adult print media, cinemas at 18 certified films, licensed premises and radio after 9pm."
Comments
by Ant, Paignton
Wednesday, March 30 2011, 8:53PM
“Stopping the advertising will achieve nothing.
Its the production of "easy to drink product" by the drinks industry that is aimed at the youth market that is the problem. But of course, it is impossible for a tory government to regulate private industry.”