Last month British member of parliament and general practitioner Sarah Wollaston pleaded to launch a total ban on alcohol advertising on television. Her plan would also prohibit alcohol brands being used to sponsor sporting and cultural events. The plan is supported by a wide range of political parties and health experts. With her plans dr. … Read More →
In February 2011 the Dutch Directorate for the Media ruled that the STER (the sales organization for advertising on radio and tv of the public service broadcaster) had violated the new Dutch Media Law. The STER received a financial penalty of 35.000 euro for broadcasting alcohol commercials for Heineken and Bavaria beer before 21.00h on … Read More →
A new trend may be emerging in the USA, where action against supersized alcopops has been undertaken by both policy makers and the alcohol industry watchdog Marin Institute. In the state Vermont a bill has been introduced banning the sale of flavored malt beverages in containers larger than 12 ounces. The Marin Institute meanwhile has … Read More →
A recent study based on a 2004 national survey of 2257 children between 11 and 16 in Zambia shows that children beeing exposed to alcohol marketing are more often drunk then those not exposed. The article also shows that education that underscores the dangers of alcohol had no effect on the drinking behaviour of the … Read More →
This month International Press Agency Reuters reported that the market for alcoholic drinks is booming in the Muslim Gulf. Alcohol producers like Heineken and Diageo are trying to generate interest for their products in the Gulf region using sports sponsorship, by targeting the richer denizens and by introducing non-alcohol alternatives. While Islam prohibits the consumption … Read More →
The Finnish Parliament has been discussing alcohol marketing restrictions since 2008. While hopes were high, march 2011 saw a disappointing conclusion to this discussion when Minister of Health and Social Services Risikko ignored a parliamentary initiative and instead proposed an ineffective and vague Government’s Act. In reaction to this 11 health and social organisations now … Read More →
In Malawi there was an encouraging political process last year which aimed at banning the sale of liquor in plastic sachets. Now, as a result of a court decision, the process has stalled. Governments and NGOs have their hands tied up by the court injunction, while the strong liquor continues to be sold to minors, … Read More →
Alcohol marketing on television is banned in Sweden, but since 2003 a number of TV channels have circumvented the Swedish Alcohol Act by broadcasting from the UK. It has been possible, but whether it is legal or not is not yet clear. That is why IOGT-NTO has sent a complaint on the fourth of March, … Read More →
Today the Western Australian city of Perth hosts a conference on drug and alcohol issues, visited by government ministers from Australia and New Zealand. Mike Daube, director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute and the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth , says he hopes the ministers take a harder look at alcohol … Read More →
The days of sports sponsorship by alcohol companies in New Zealand may very well be numbered, according to Steve Stannard of the New Zealand School of Sport and Exercise. Stannard said this during a conference on Sport and Alcohol that was organized last week by the Massey University. There may not be enough evidence for … Read More →