Reviewing Alcohol Advertising
A wide-ranging review of regulations controlling the advertising and promotion of alcohol is starting. The review will, over this year, seek the views of the wider community including consumer and sports groups, industry bodies, and non-government organisations, and will include a formal public consultation period. It forms a part of the government's alcohol policy based on harm minimisation - one of the 13 priority population health objectives of the NZ Health Strategy.
Research - accessible from http://www.shore.ac.nz/publications/publications.html - shows a connection between alcohol advertising and the beliefs and behaviours of young people, with advertising reinforcing cultural norms. The review will address specific issues with alcohol advertising in NZ, including the large amount of alcohol industry sponsorship, promotions and advertisements young people are exposed to.
There seems to be general agreement that alcohol advertising needs to be regulated to some degree. What is not agreed is how best to regulate and to what extent. A balance needs to be achieved between the need for public health and wider social objectives to be met, the right that the industry has to advertise and market their products, and individual and parental rights and responsibilities.
A steering group made up of members from the Alcohol Advisory Council of NZ, the Ministries of Health, Justice, Youth Development, and Culture and Heritage, the Advertising Standards Authority and Broadcasting Standards Authority, plus two independent members will lead the review. Members are to be appointed by the end of February. The group is expected to provide final recommendations to the government in late 2006.
Basic information abut alcohol in NZ can be found at: http://www.moh.govt.nz/. The government's national alcohol strategy can be accessed from: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/2844f7e8856b21a14c256a51007258f3?OpenDocument |
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