Alcohol Ads Will Not Be Banned in the UK, Despite What Media Says
By Jim Edwards | October 12, 2009
The chances of alcohol advertising being banned in the U.K. are close to zero — a fact not mentioned in Ad Age’s story on the topic this morning.
There are two reasons. The first is that the Conservative Party is 19 points ahead of the Labour government in the polls, and it has said it will not ban alcohol ads if it wins the upcoming election. This is important because the current Labour government doesn’t support this ban either, according to the Guardian.
(Note that this story is not a new one — the British Medical Association called for the ban more than a month ago.)
The second reason there will be no ban is because of the booze industry’s close ties to sport. Heineken is a big supporter of rugby, and brewer Carling sponsors the FA, the Carling Cup, the England team, and Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. So even if a UK government wanted such a ban, it would first have to face down the wrath of the football business, which is heavily dependent on beer sponsors. Virtually all clubs have beer and liquor sponsors on their shirts or in their stadia, and even the largest clubs have perilous finances. The prospect of removing booze income from football could plunge some clubs into receivership (in theory). Such a move would infuriate millions of fans (and voters).
It is simply not going to happen
Alcohol advertising should be completely banned, to try and solve the problem of young people binge drinking, according to a leading doctors association.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has put forward a nine point plan to curb binge-drinking culture in the UK, which includes banning alcohol advertising and marketing, from TV ads to festival sponsorship. The public are exposed to over £800 million of marketing for alcohol per year, and the BMA are concerned that linking alcohol to glamorous images and 'cool' events such as festivals and football matches may glamourise drinking for young people.
However, there are fears that if adverts for alcohol were banned, a price war might break out, and young people would be able to drink more as alcohol would be cheaper.
What do you think? Would banning alcohol adverts stop binge drinking culture?
Do you think alcohol companies sponsoring festivals and sports events glamourises them?
Do you think you have been encouraged to drink after seeing an advert for alcohol? If so, which one?
Have your say on alcohol adverts in the comments box below.
There are two reasons. The first is that the Conservative Party is 19 points ahead of the Labour government in the polls, and it has said it will not ban alcohol ads if it wins the upcoming election. This is important because the current Labour government doesn’t support this ban either, according to the Guardian.(Note that this story is not a new one — the British Medical Association called for the ban more than a month ago.)
The second reason there will be no ban is because of the booze industry’s close ties to sport. Heineken is a big supporter of rugby, and brewer Carling sponsors the FA, the Carling Cup, the England team, and Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. So even if a UK government wanted such a ban, it would first have to face down the wrath of the football business, which is heavily dependent on beer sponsors. Virtually all clubs have beer and liquor sponsors on their shirts or in their stadia, and even the largest clubs have perilous finances. The prospect of removing booze income from football could plunge some clubs into receivership (in theory). Such a move would infuriate millions of fans (and voters).
It is simply not going to happen
Tuesday's big issue: Alcohol adverts
Would banning alcohol adverts stop young people from binge drinking?
By Cosmopolitan 08.09.2009, Comments (17)
The British Medical Association (BMA) has put forward a nine point plan to curb binge-drinking culture in the UK, which includes banning alcohol advertising and marketing, from TV ads to festival sponsorship. The public are exposed to over £800 million of marketing for alcohol per year, and the BMA are concerned that linking alcohol to glamorous images and 'cool' events such as festivals and football matches may glamourise drinking for young people.
However, there are fears that if adverts for alcohol were banned, a price war might break out, and young people would be able to drink more as alcohol would be cheaper.
What do you think? Would banning alcohol adverts stop binge drinking culture?
Do you think alcohol companies sponsoring festivals and sports events glamourises them?
Do you think you have been encouraged to drink after seeing an advert for alcohol? If so, which one?
Have your say on alcohol adverts in the comments box below.
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