Advertising that facilitates hazardous and harmful alcohol use, and supports the attitudes that contribute to this alcohol use, is of concern.
In Australia, alcohol advertising practices are self-regulated by a national voluntary Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC). The code outlines guidelines to ensure that advertising does not have a strong appeal to children or adolescents or encourages excessive alcohol consumption.
A recent review of the complaints process identified problems with the Code and the self-regulatory process that adjudicates alleged breaches.
In 2003, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy considered a report into the self-regulation of the Code and found it to be unsatisfactory. The MCDS required a number of changes to the self-regulatory process, established a time line for these changes to be made, put in place an independent monitoring process and established a review date for consideration by the MCDS in 2005.
Click here for more information abut the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC).
Click here for more information abut the Retail Advertisements.
Click here to find out about what can be done about irresponsible alcohol advertising.
Click here for information about local-point-of-sale promotions.