BMA calls for total ban on alcohol ads

The British Medical Association has called for a total ban on alcohol advertising, including sports events and music festival sponsorship.

The new BMA report, ‘Under the Influence’, says a total ban is needed to tackle the UK’s drink problem, along with an end to all promotional deals such as happy hours and two-for-one purchases.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of BMA Science and Ethics, claims people are drinking more because society is “awash with pro-alcohol messaging and marketing”.

The author of the report, Professor Gerard Hastings, agreed: “Given the alcohol industry spends £800 million a year in promoting alcohol in the UK, it is no surprise that children and young people see it everywhere – on TV, in magazines, on billboards, as part of music festivals or football sponsorship deals, on internet pop-ups and on social networking sites.

“All these promotional activities serve to normalise alcohol as an essential part of every day life.  It is no surprise that young people are drawn to alcohol,” Hastings continued.

“The BMA is not anti-alcohol.  As doctors our focus is to ensure that individuals drink sensibly so they do not put their health and lives in danger.  When the BMA initially called for a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places there were outcries but I doubt most people would want to return to the days of smoky pubs now.  This shows that behaviour can change and this needs to happen with alcohol consumption.”

The report claims that brand development and stakeholder marketing by the drink industry has served the needs of the alcohol industry, not public health.