The British Medical Association (BMA) has proposed a ban on alcohol advertising including sports and music sponsorship. They also want to see an end to cheap alcohol and offers such as two for one, happy hour deals and a reduction in licensing hours. Further details from the report
are on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8242385 and
http://www.bma.org.uk/health_promotion_ethics/alcohol/undertheinfluence.jspstm the full report ‘Under the Influence can be down loaded from the second link.
This latest report is very concerned about the impact of advertising on young people. Don Shenker, of Alcohol Concern, is quoted as saying: "There's no longer any doubt - the heavy marketing and promotion of alcohol, combined with low prices - are encouraging young people to drink at a level our health services are struggling to cope with."
Evidence indicates that excessive alcohol consumption is linked to 60 different medical conditions, including liver and brain damage, some cancers and other diseases such as stroke and heart disease. This year a young man in his 20s died from liver disease and he didn’t meet the criteria for a liver transplant.Further information on health and alcohol consumption is
available on: http://cliconline.co.uk/clicinfo/serverc5be.html?show=nav.965
£3bn is the estimate for the cost to the NHS for the injury and illness caused by alcohol and the costs to the wider economy are even greater with loss of productivity said to be more than £7bn a year. £200 million is spent on alcohol advertising and £800 million on promoting alcohol in the UK. Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust has said that “Alcohol is now marketed as a staple part of our diet in the UK.” The alcohol industry takes a different view believing that a lot is being done to encourage sensible drinking. The chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association thinks the suggestions made in the report would adversely affect sensible consumers and that lots of jobs in the drinks and related industries such as media and advertising would be affected.
He said: "Britain already has amongst the highest taxes on alcohol in Europe The drinks industry is funding a major campaign to change drinking patterns amongst young adults.” So there are conflicting views on the impact of advertising, sponsorship and pricing of alcohol and how they affect consumption, attitude and the drinking culture in the UK.