Health experts call for restrictions on alcohol advertising
A group of leading European health experts have called for a Europe-wide ban on alcohol advertising that appeals to children and adolescents.
An article has been published in this month's Clinical Medicine journal (The journal of the UK Royal College of Physicians) that underlines the significant influence marketing has on young people.
Evidence from 13 studies of more than 38,000 young people demonstrates that alcohol advertising has an impact on the uptake of drinking and also encourages heavier drinking.
Dr Peter Anderson, a consultant in public health and author of the article, has stressed the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption among young people and urged policy makers to do more to protect vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents. "Banning advertising that appeals to young people would lessen the attraction of drinking for children and adolescents. An EU-wide ban could prevent 5% of all alcohol-related ill health," he said.
Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance added “We owe it to the next generation to protect them from the health harms of alcohol misuse, and the evidence is now clear that restricting access to alcohol advertising, often aimed at young people, is a key element of such a strategy.”