Open University Professor of Social Marketing Gerard Hastings, also director of the Institute for Social Marketing and Centre for Tobacco Control Research at Stirling University, has welcomed the move by MP Dr Sarah Wollaston to put forward a private members bill to limit the advertising exposure of alcohol to children.
“There’s now a steady stream of evidence showing that the increasing consumption of alcohol advertising is associated with a greater number of people drinking from a young age," said Gerard.
“Recent research has painted a powerful picture of young people being inundated with messages that depict drinking as normal, fun and something we should be doing all the time, which is an unhelpful norm.
“But this is not a proposed ban on alcohol advertising; it’s simply aiming to reduce vast swathes of it to protect children and young people, and also to make it more factual so that consumers can make informed decisions.
“We know there are serious health issues attached to drinking so we want to change behaviour in society. People should be able to choose not to drink without being made to feel as though they have to excuse themselves.”
Useful links
- BBC News online report
- A report authored by two OU academics calls for a total ban on alcohol advertising