Authors: Eloise Howse (e-mail: elly.howse@saxinstitute.org.au), Christina Watts, Bronwyn McGill, James Kite, Samantha Rowbotham, Penelope Hawe, Adrian Bauman, Becky Freeman
Citation: Howse, E., Watts, C., McGill, B., Kite, J., Rowbotham, S., Hawe, P., Bauman, A. and Freeman, B. (2022), Sydney’s ‘last drinks’ laws: A content analysis of news media coverage of views and arguments about a preventive health policy. Drug Alcohol Rev., 41: 561-574. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13376
Key takeaways:
A lack of public support can be a barrier for implementing highly effective alcohol policy solutions.
- The framing of these policy solutions used in media can influence community attitudes and public support in both directions.
- In this example from Australia, a majority of the reporting on the so called “last drinks-law” mentioned actors who expressed opposition to the law.
- Industry actors were over-represented.
- Only 25% of articles quoted someone in support of the policy.
- This suggests that just having the evidence is not enough for public health advocates.
- Understanding alcohol industry media strategies and developing a compelling narrative around the proposed policies are some of the suggestions mentioned in this study.