Ministers considering alcohol advertising restrictions in line with junk food
Ministers are considering more strict restrictions on alcohol advertising to make it suitable for junk ads.
The government said it was investigating “partial restrictions” that may include prohibiting alcohol advertising before 21:00.
Plans can be introduced in the ten -year NHS plan to be announced in July.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will announce radical reforms for NHS in the UK after the last expenditure examination has allocated £ 29 billion to £ 29 billion.
In accordance with unhealthy food plans to be applied in January 2026, advertisements will be prohibited if the products are classified as “less healthy ından using a government scoring system based on salt, oil, sugar and protein content.
If alcohol restrictions follow the same instructions as the unhealthy food ban, television ads may only be allowed after 21 o’clock.
There are already strict restrictions on alcohol advertising in the UK. The instructions of the Advertising Standards Agency say that alcohol advertisements should not be directed to people under the age of 18 or that they should not contain anything that will appeal to them by reflecting the youth culture.
There are also controls prohibited from programs under the age of 18 or programs that may appeal to that age group, around the placement of alcohol ads.
The government excluded the minimum unit unit price of the Scottish -style unit, which was understood to have been included in the previous drafts of the decade.
According to Scottish laws, minimum unit pricing determines the lowest price for an alcoholic beverage to be sold. For example, a 700ml whiskey bottle cannot be sold less than £ 18.20 in Scotland.
Sky News On Wednesday, a leaked part of the ten -year draft plans to prohibit alcohol ads completely or partially.
Ministry of Health and Social Care, the plan will not contain a complete ban, he said.
According to the National Statistics Office, more than 10,000 people died of alcohol-related deaths in 2023. Alcohol damage, according to research by the Institute of Alcohol Research last year, the cost of NHS around 27.4 billion per year.
Alcohol replacement UK CEO Dr. Richard Piper, alcohol, “the leading health polluter in the UK” remained as the leading health pollutant “, damaging millions of people and warned that the shortening lives.
Authorized, British’s advertising rules are much weaker than other countries, said the “status quo” failed.
“Alcohol is everywhere,” he said to TV and sports sponsorships, public transport ads, and “continuous” online marketing, which is almost impossible to close ”.
He added that these ads show that “relaxing, socializing, celebration or commissioning” showing the drink wrongly for daily life.
Dr Piper called it “completely unacceptable ,, he said that so many children have been subjected to alcohol advertisements, especially through sports and digital platforms, and support the stronger protection of the people. “Our children should no longer be ‘collateral damage to alcohol marketing,” he said.
The government called on a ten -year health plan and health mission to use alcohol to cope with “non -control” industrial advertisements and reduce the damage in society.
Jem Roberts of the Institute of Alcohol Research, said the group welcomed the group plans to impose restrictions.
Uz We know that the three most effective ways to reduce alcohol damage are to increase alcohol price, firm restrictions and marketing bans, ”he said. “They are all supported with international evidence for decades.
“But to significantly reduce alcohol deaths, [advertising restrictions] Minimum unit pricing and life -saving and reducing health inequalities proven cheap, high -strength alcohol should be combined with measures. “
A DHSC spokesman said: “The 10 -year health plan will not include ban on alcohol advertising.
