www.alkoholpolitik.ch

As requested by the Swedish Presidency, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has presented its views on alcohol-related harm in European society. The EESC calls for stricter controls on alcohol marketing and pricing policies in order to reduce problems associated with alcohol consumption.
These measures are aimed at reducing the proportion of people estimated to drink harmful levels of alcohol in the EU, which currently amounts to 15% of the adult population, as well as protecting children from its consequences. … EESC Press release Nr 127/2009, 10/6/09. The full text of these opinions will soon be available in all EU languages on http://eesc.europa.eu/documents/opinions/avis_en.asp

When the Swedish brewer organisation and The Brewers of Europe spread misleading information about the restrictive Swedish alcohol policy by buying entire pages in daily newspapers to „inform“ about results from a report they themselves had financed, UNF reported them to the ombudsman for advertising for providing misinformation and targeting young people with one page alcohol ads. It’s another exclamation mark in UNF’s series of action to point on the immoral conduct of the alcohol industry. (Source: Active newsletter October 2009, not online) order newsletter: office@
activeeurope.org

Since its debut five years ago, Facebook has grown exponentially to include colleges and universities, high school and business networks, along with the general public around the globe. In that same time, Facebook also changed its advertising policies and regulations from not offering online advertising to soliciting paid advertisements for products and services including alcohol products. Although the company’s policy requires paid advertisements for alcohol to include age restrictions, the policy is not enforced by Facebook, nor does the restriction requirement apply to other sources of alcohol content throughout Facebook. For this article, we explored the prevalence of alcohol-related content found in popular aspects of Facebook profiles. We also identified aspects of Facebook that contain a great deal of alcohol content and are accessible by anyone, regardless of age. We offer recommendations for both Facebook and the alcohol industry to remove paid ads and other types of content promoting alcohol products and dangerous drinking behaviors in order to protect youth and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol advertising. (Source: Marin Institute, ) The Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice (Source: Join Together, 10/8/09)

Setting a minimum price for alcohol could save the Scottish economy £950m over 10 years and prevent 370 deaths annually, according to research published on Monday. The Sheffield University report, commissioned by the Scottish government, based its findings on setting a minimum price of 40p per unit of alcohol, combined with a ban on off-licence promotions. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 9/29/09) Financial Times, 9/28/09

After three readings in both chambers of the Swiss Parliament, when the small Federal Chamber always said no and the big National Chamber said always yes to ads in all TV stations and private broadcasting for wine and beer they both agreed after a joint meeting of a commission to this new law, following the demand by the European Union to accept the EU directives on TV over the frontiers. This was a condition because Switzerland wanted to have a Media-Agreement with the EU and profit from film sponsoring. Since the beginning of Swiss Television alcohol advertising was always banned for preventive reasons.
Comment: This is a very sad moment, after a long fight in parliament. The only hope is now that future EU regulations on alcohol will be better and have to be taken by the Swiss legislation. It is against all logic and research on the influence of marketing on youth, in a time when alcohol abuse of young people is in the headlines. But the liberals, the conservatives and even christian democrates in agreement with economy organisations, the alcohol and marketing industry are too strong. The medias didn’t take up the matter and brought only short statements by agencies. This is freedom of the press. Journalists are not obliged to follow their own ethical basic rules which say journalists have to contribute to an open discussion in society. That means that the people cannot make up a realistic mind and put pressure on the parliament.
Theoretically there is the possibility to launch a referendum because this Media-Agreement is an international contract. But I doubt that there is somebody to take this chance as the industry, and the media are financially and in their publicity too strong.

Half or more of the ads aired during Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) games are for alcohol, drugs, or sexually related products, according to the group Common Sense Media. The Associated Press reported Sept. 17 that the group has called on sports leagues and networks to curb advertising they say is inappropriate for young viewers — so far, without success. (Source: Join Together, 9/21/09)

Alcohol advertising would be banned and sales limited by location and time of day under a plan endorsed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev called alcoholism in Russia a „national disaster“ in unveiling plans that also include bans on sales of large containers of beer and prison sentences for those convicted of selling alcohol to youths under age 18. The new rules would go into effect before the end of the year. (Source: Join Together, 9/19/09)

The BMA’s call to ban alcohol advertising because of its damaging effects on young people is „a logical recommendation to attempt to reverse the all embracing pro-alcohol culture that has grown up in a period of deregulation and liberalisation over the last quarter of a century,“ according to Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/11/09)

„Australians will be told to drink and smoke less and eat less junk food by a new preventative health watchdog that will begin monitoring the health system within months. Health Minister Nicola Roxon said legislation for a National Preventative Health Agency would be introduced into Parliament within the next fortnight, forming a key part of the Government’s plan to reduce preventable illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. The independent but publicly funded agency will be responsible for a major preventative health advertising push, policy advice, health surveillance, consultation and research. It will begin in January, staffed by government-appointed population health experts.“ (Source: Harvard World Health News, 9/10/09) The Sydney Morning Herald, 9/6/09

The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would prohibit alcohol advertising on all state-owned property, including the transit system,.. (Source: Join Together, 9/9/09)