Policy and Advocacy: Advertising and marketing

The Drug Foundation strongly supports the development of a Global Alcohol Strategy by the WHO and member states.

In defending its hold on sport sponsorship, the liquor industry argues there’s no link between alcohol advertising and sales, and that it’s really only about brand loyalty. It’s quite a startling claim, but there are plenty out there ready to believe it. Richard Boock.

We all know New Zealand has an alarming binge drinking culture, but who’s to blame? Doug Sellman argues that not enough attention is paid to the role the alcohol industry plays in keeping Kiwis liquored up.

The Drug Foundation has serious concerns about this process of industry self-regulation and self-review. After 10 years of alcohol brand advertising, a full review of government policy on this issue is called for. The ASA continues to demonstrate its lack of policy independence by terms of reference that ask us to limit ourselves to "new evidence" since 1998 and focus on ˜the relationship between broadcast advertising and long term liquor consumption trends", and by raising questions already settled or beyond its jurisdiction.

The BSA Code covers the saturation levels of alcohol advertising accepted by broadcasters, alcohol sponsorship of programmes, and incidental presentation of alcohol and alcohol promotion.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation supports a ban on broadcast liquor advertising. This is because the research-based evidence suggests it is the most effective policy option for reducing alcohol-related harm.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation welcomes this review. This review is particularly important as it comes at a time when this country is debating how best to tackle our drinking culture, and regionally and internationally there is increasing concern about the impact of alcohol on communities and the role marketing plays in that.