Ban all booze adverts now, docs demand

Published: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:45:00

All alcohol advertising should be banned in the UK as the NHS struggles to cope with people's drinking levels, doctors have said. The British Medical Association said a complete ban, including at sports events and music festivals, was needed to combat the "soaring cost" of alcohol-related harm. The BMA is also calling for an end to happy hours, two-for-one purchases and free drinks for women, as well as for alcoholic drinks to be taxed at a higher rate than inflation.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of BMA science and ethics, said the time had come to combat the country's "favourite drug". "The reality is that young people are drinking more because the whole population is drinking more and our society is awash with pro-alcohol messaging and marketing. In treating this we need to look beyond young people and at society as a whole," she said.

According to the World Health Organisation, alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature death and disability in develop countries after tobacco and blood pressure. While accepting that a demand for a blanket ban on all alcohol advertising is controversial, the BMA said it received a similar reaction when pushing for an end to smoking in public places. "I doubt most people would want to return to the days of smoky pubs now," Dr Nathanson added. "This shows that behaviour can change and this needs to happen with alcohol consumption."

Report author Professor Gerard Hastings said it was "no surprise" alcohol had become a central part of many Britons' lives due to the £800 million spent annually on promoting it. "All these promotional activities serve to normalise alcohol as an essential part of every day life," he said. "It is no surprise that young people are drawn to alcohol."

The BMA also questioned the wisdom of involving the alcohol industry in talks on reducing alcohol-related harm. The move amounted to "putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop", the BMA said.

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