European Alcoho... / Resources / Policy Issues / Marketing
Marketing
Alcohol marketing ranges from mass media advertising to sponsorship of events, product placement, internet, merchandise, usage of other products connected with alcohol brands, social networks etc. In 2009, the Science Group of the European Alcohol and Health Forum produced a report on marketing which reviewed a number of studies regarding impact of marketing on the volume and patterns of drinking alcohol. It concluded that alcohol marketing increases the likelihood that young people will start to drink alcohol, and that among those who have started to drink, marketing increases the their drinking levels in terms of both amount and frequency.
Alcohol advertising was first regulated at EU level by the EU's "Television without Frontiers" Directive, which was adopted in 1989 and revised for the first time in 1997.
On 13 December 2005, the Commission proposed a new revision in order to take account of rapid technological changes and developments in the audiovisual services market such as video on demand, mobile television and audiovisual services via digital television.
On 24 May 2007, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the proposal. The new Directive on Audiovisual Media Services entered into force on 19 December 2007. Member States have until 19 December 2009 to incorporate its provisions into national law.
Resources
Reference EU Documents
- The Audiovisual Media Service Directive - adopted in December 2007.
- Television Without Frontiers Directive - passed in 1989, updated in 1997 and became the Audivisual Media Service Directive in 2007
Research
- Assessment of young people’s exposure to alcohol marketing in audiovisual and online media. RAND. September 2012
- Report on the Impact of marketing, price and availability of alcohol on young people’s consumption levels. Alcohol Policy Youth Network - APYN (2011)
- Does marketing communication impact on the volume and patterns of consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially by young people?. Scientific Opinion of the Science Group of the European Alcohol and Health Forum (2009)
- Impact of Alcohol Advertising and Media Exposure on Adolescent Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. Anderson P. de Bruijn A. Angus K. Gordon R. and Hastings G. Alcohol and Alcoholism, pp. 1- 15, 2009.
- Targeting/Not Targeting Youth: Mapping exercise report. Gordon, Wilks and MacAskill (2009) Report prepared for the European Commission, DG SANCO
- The effect of alcohol advertising and marketing on drinking behaviour in young people: A systematic review. Lesley A. Smith L. Foxcroft D. Alcohol Education and Research Council, November 2007
- Effects of Alcohol Advertising Exposure on Drinking Among Youth. Leslie B. Snyder et al (2006)
- Exposure to Televised Alcohol Ads and Subsequent Adolescent Alcohol Use. Alan W. Stacy et al (2004). Am J Health Behav. 2004;28(6):498-509.
- Does alcohol advertising promote adolescent drinking? Results from a longitudinal assessment. Phyllis L. Ellickson et al (2004). Addiction, 100, 235–246
Good practices
Seen by public health experts as an example to follow, the Loi Evin, was passed in France in 1991 in order to control the advertising of alcohol and tobacco. The Law puts an end to lifestyle advertising of alcohol.
According to the Loi Evin messages and images in alcohol ads should refer only to the qualities of the product such as degree, origin, composition and means of production.
The Globe: The 'Loi Evin': a French exception
Loi Evin France: A French exception! A European Example! By ANPAA
Useful links
Projects
AMMIE
The AMMIE project (Alcohol Marketing Monitoring in Europe) consists of NGOs from five EU countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands) that monitored alcohol advertising practices and marketing activities in 2010. The project started in 2009 and is partly funded by the European Commission.
FASE: Focus on Alcohol Safe Environment
FASE project aims to collect best practices in work-place strategies to reduce the impact of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption on the economy as well as best practices on well-resourced community mobilisation and intervention projects to create safer drinking environments, and to develop best practice in advertising, self regulation and monitoring.
ELSA
ELSA (Enforcement of national Laws and Self-regulation on advertising and marketing of Alcohol) was a two year project that assessed the enforcement of national laws and self-regulation on the advertising and marketing of alcoholic beverages in all 25 Member States and applicant countries and Norway.
Eurocare Events
Under the Influence: Protecting teens from the impact of alcohol marketing, 21 June 2011, European Parliament (Brussels)
Hosted by MEPs: Anna Hedh (S&D) and Marian Harkin (ALDE)
Organisers: Eurocare and STAP (Ducth Institute for Alcohol Policy)
Eurocare Press Releases
Self- regulation is not an answer
It cannot be left to the producers of a harmful product to decide how, when and where it will be marketed. Policy makers must not rely on self-regulation, but rather follow up through more statutory measures to protect the consumers.
News
Russia restricts alcohol marketing
In July, Russia implemented new regulations on alcohol marketing, and is planning to expand to a complete ban from January 1 2013.
Alcohol ads continue to sparkle in Lithuania
Vaida Liutkute from the Lithuanian Eurocare member Lithuanian National Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition reports on the developments and political landscape after last year's discussion of introducing a marketing ban on alcoholic beverages.
EUROCARE member challenges Carlsberg over the promotion of alcohol in Denmark
The Danish football club, FC København (FCK), is being accused of marketing Carlsberg to Danish schools as part of their 2012 school tour.
Football strongly associated with alcohol
European research institutes plea for a ban on sport sponsorship by the alcohol industry. Results from the project Alcohol Marketing Monitoring in Europe (AMMIE) stress the need to implement a ban on sport sponsorship of alcohol brands in Europe.
Finland takes important steps to restrict alcohol marketing
“Finland stands out as an important example for the other EU Member States” says Mariann Skar, Secretary General in European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare)
Self-regulation is not an answer
Policy makers must not rely on self-regulation, but rather follow up through more statutory measures to protect the consumers.
European alcohol industry fails in protecting young people towards alcohol marketing
The final report from the Alcohol Marketing Monitoring in Europe (AMMIE) project is released today. The conclusion brings important input to the discussion on self-regulation and alcohol marketing, and the research shows that the functioning of the so called self regulation of alcohol marketing does not protect young people against the exposure of alcohol commercials.
Alcohol consumption in movies affect young people’s drinking behaviour
New research published in Pediatrics gives us new knowledge and important insight on the link between alcohol exposure in movies and alcohol use in Europe
Finland next to adopt Loi Evin?
The Finnish Minister of Health and Social Services, Maria Guzenina-Richardson, has put forward plans to restrict alcohol marketing.
What makes young people drink less or more?
Source: Alcohol Policy Youth Network
APYN in April 2011 initiated a study on the Impact of Marketing, Price and Availability of Alcohol on Young People’s Consumption levels.
The President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Parliament do not want a ban of alcohol advertisement
“Biggest shame to Lithuania”, says the Lithuanian National Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition