www.msn.com; James Rodger; 22-09-2024
Spain has drafted new alcohol advertising laws to tackle underage consumption. The Minister of Health in the European Union holiday hotspot, which is popular with Brits, said the law looks to decrease “episodes of intensive consumption in this vulnerable group”.
Mónica García presented the proposal to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday (30 July) and in an official statement, the Ministry of Health wrote that the law will establish a “comprehensive framework to protect the health of minors and promote responsible alcohol consumption in society”.
It aims to prevent alcohol consumption by “delaying the age of [drinking] onset, protecting against the consequences of consumption and reducing episodes of intensive consumption in this vulnerable group”. The law will limit alcohol advertisements near schools and equivalent educational centres, as well as parks and other places designed for children.
This applies to 0.0% abv drinks too, the ministry said. Adults will also be prohibited from consuming alcohol at events that are intended for under-18s, including concerts and children’s sports fixtures, too. There will also be restrictions on television advertisements, which may not use the image or voice of persons under 21 years of age or pregnant women.
The Ministry of Health said it is now required to publish a text of the draft law for public hearing, as well as carry out a hearing for “entities” that might be impacted by the legislation. The Ministry of Health said: “This survey shows that the average age of initiation of consumption is too early, both for occasional consumption (14 years for men and women) and for weekly consumption (15 years).