Ahead of the coming Holyrood election, alcohol campaigners have warned that protecting children from alcohol marketing must be given far greater priority by all parties in the next parliamentary term.
BMA Scotland, SHAAP, Alcohol Focus Scotland and Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs have joined together to call on Scotland’s politicians to pledge to do more to reduce the exposure of children to alcohol advertising.
Research has shown that exposure to alcohol marketing reduces the age at which young people start to drink, increases the likelihood that they will drink and increases the amount of alcohol they will consume once they have started to drink. Just this week, a systematic review of research into alcohol sponsorship by the Institute for Alcohol Studies found consistent evidence of a link between exposure and risky drinking behaviour in children. Also, in a 2014 poll commissioned by the Alcohol Health Alliance, 69% of people were found to believe that alcohol advertising campaigns appeal to under-18s.
Scottish Parliament candidates from all parties are being asked to pledge their support for action to enable children to grow up free from exposure to alcohol advertising.
Commenting, Chair of BMA Scotland Dr Peter Bennie said:
“The presence of alcohol branding is currently ever-present in the lives of children in Scotland. There can be few children in Scotland who are not exposed to some form of alcohol advertising or branding on an almost daily basis.
“The next parliamentary term must see concrete action to protect children from alcohol marketing and I hope all candidates at this election will sign up to endorse that.”
Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:
“Everyone agrees that children shouldn’t see alcohol advertising but they do. Watching sport on TV, waiting for the school bus, at the cinema or using social media – all of these activities are exposing our children to positive messages from alcohol companies. As well as being morally wrong, there is clear evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing leads children to start drinking at an earlier age and to drink more.
“The current codes are failing to protect children. It’s time to take effective action in Scotland and ensure our children can play, learn and socialise in places that are free from alcohol marketing.
Christine Duncan, Chief Executive of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs said:
“Through our frontline services we recognise the full impact of problematic alcohol on families which is often as real, and present for some families, as alcohol branding in day-to-day life. Alcohol marketing serves as a continual reminder of some of the difficulties being faced by families and their loved ones.
“We urge all candidates to recognise the impact of alcohol marketing on children and young people and encourage elected representatives to pledge to take action to reduce the exposure of children to alcohol advertising in the next parliamentary term.”
Eric Carlin, Director of SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) said:
“Doctors and nurses in Scotland see on a daily basis the harms that are caused to young people and their families by alcohol. Rather than accepting the inevitability that all young people will drink and that parents and carers are powerless to do anything about it, we need to challenge the ways that young people are exposed to alcohol promotions, in advertising in the middle of soap operas and entertainment programmes, sports and musical events and social media.
“Many research studies indicate that use of alcohol by teenagers can have long-lasting effects on the physiology of the brain. Social activities for young people do not need to be dominated by pressure to fit in by drinking alcohol.”
ENDS
Notes:
“I welcome the intent behind these measures and the recognition from the Committee that the time is right to give further consideration to the regulation of alcohol advertising and sponsorship in Scotland. I welcome the majority Committee view that this would be best addressed through the next phase of the Alcohol Framework.
“As the Committee notes, parts of the control of advertising are reserved to Westminster and as such the Scottish Government has pressed the UK Government to do more to protect children and young people from exposure to alcohol advertising, but in the absence of that cooperation the Scottish Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation that it gives consideration to the areas within its jurisdiction.
“The Scottish Government is already taking forward that work and has now engaged with a network of international experts in the field of advertising and sponsorship. We will be seeking views and recommendations from the experts as part of the next phase of the Alcohol Framework. This work will help to inform the future approach in Scotland.”
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Audio_files/20160126-Scottish_Government_Response.pdf
Please contact: Gillian Bell, Senior Communications Co-ordinator or Jennifer Curran, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland on 0141 572 6700
