New push to ban alcohol advertising during sports broadcasts
A group of prominent health promoters and researchers are using the up-and-coming football grand finals to make a renewed push for alcohol advertising to be banned during sports broadcasts.
The McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth have used the occasion to release new research, saying seven out of 10 surveyed Australian adults want TV ads promoting alcohol to be phased out when children are likely to be watching sports.
The survey of 1050 adults also found 80 per cent are concerned about the current levels children have to alcohol promotion. Approximately 70 per cent do not think it is appropriate for alcohol advertisements to feature sports starts who are popular with children.
The survey results are part of a new Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB) report on alcohol advertising and sport published by the McCusker Centre and the Cancer Council of Western Australia.
The report reveals that sports related complaints have made up almost one-third of complaints received by the AARB in the past five years.
Approximately two-thirds of the sports-related complaints were related to alcohol sponsorship of sport.
McCusker Centre Executive Officer, Julia Stafford, said the report highlights concerns with children’s exposure to alcohol advertising through sport.
“Given the majority of Australian adults do not think it is acceptable for alcohol to be promoted in connection with sport, we call on the Federal Government to phase out alcohol sponsorship of sport, close the loophole that allows alcohol ads during sport on TV, and introduce independent, legislated controls on all forms of alcohol marketing,” Stafford said.
Cancer Council WA Nutrition and Physical Activity Manager, Steve Pratt, said alcohol advertising should not be involved in sports.
“While alcohol and sport are so closely connected, children and young people will continue to be exposed to unacceptably high levels of alcohol marketing,” Pratt said.
“If the health and wellbeing of our community is a priority for governments, it is clear alcohol has no place in sport.”
