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19 November 2010

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Alcohol Ad Ban

Sought by Doctors

 

The British Medical Association says alcohol consumption has been rising rapidly and wants marketing drinking to be halted as a way of combatting the problem

 

A new report from the British Medical Association (BMA) is raising alarms about the harmful effects of drinking in the United Kingdom.

 

In a September 2009 report, Under the Influence - the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people  the BMA says, “The population is drinking in increasingly harmful ways and the result is a range of avoidable medical, psychological, and social harm, damaged lives and early deaths.”

 

More than a third of British adults are “now drinking above the recommended amounts” according to a BBC News report (September 2009).

 

Advertising Booze Targetted at Young People

The BMA says the level of drinking has been going up among all age groups but it is particularly concerned about young people.

 

The BMA report says “The alcohol industry uses its prodigious marketing skills and massive budgets to promote positive images about alcohol, and back these up with incentives, branding, enticing new products, and sophisticated public relations.”

The alcohol industry in Britain spends a whopping £800 million ($1.4 billion) each year selling it products. A lot of that money goes into sponsoring events closely associated with young people such as sports and music festivals.

 

The doctors’ group also criticizes marketing schemes such as loyalty programs, competitions, happy hours, and two-for-one offers.

 

Voluntary Codes of Marketing Conduct

Reporting on the study for The Guardian (September 2009) Mark Sweney writes that current controls on alcohol marketing are based on a voluntary code of conduct that focus “on the content and type of ads and not the volume of marketing.”

 

The BMA says this system is “completely inadequate.” As a result, writes Sweney “The first recommendation in the nine-point plan is to ‘implement and rigorously enforce a comprehensive ban on all alcohol marketing communications.’ ”

 

Cost of Alcohol Abuse High and Rising

According to Nick Triggle at BBC News, “Only smoking and high blood pressure is responsible for a greater burden of disease, according to the World Health Organization.

 

“The cost to the (National Health Service) for treating injury and illness linked to drink has been estimated to be anything up to £3 billion ($5.33 billion) a year in the United Kingdom.”

 

If loss of productivity is added in the cost to the British economy of excessive drinking is as high as £7 billion ($12.5 billion).

 

Tough Decisions on Alcohol Needed

The advocacy group Alcohol Concerns campaigns against the misuse of liquor and for tougher legislation controlling drinking.

 

The group’s Chief Executive Don Shenker says the BMA report “recognizes that we need to make tough decisions to tackle our country’s growing alcohol problem.

“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.”

 

Sources

“Under the Influence.” British Medical Association, September 7, 2009.

“Doctors Want Booze Marketing Ban.” Nick Triggle, BBC News, September 8, 2009.

“BMA Demands Total Ban on Alcohol Ads.” Mark Sweney, The Guardian, September 8, 2009.

“Alcohol is more Harmful than Crack of Heroin.” Richard Alleyne, The Telegraph, November 1, 2010.

 

© Canada and the World, November 2010

All rights reserved

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY

 

In litres of pure ethyl alcohol per person, per year

 

Luxembourg - 15.6

Ireland - 13.7

Hungary - 13.6

Moldova - 13.2

Czech Republic - 13.0

Croatia - 12.3

Scotland - 12.2

Germany - 12.0

United Kingdom - 11.8

Spain - 11.7

 

Canada - 7.8

 

World Health Organization

 

 

THE MOST

DANGEROUS DRUG

 

The former chief drug adviser to the British government, Professor David Nutt, says that booze is more dangerous than either heroin or crack cocaine.

 

In a study published in the medical journal The Lancet, Dr. Nutt reviews how drugs cause “harm to self” and “harm to others.”

 

Reporting on the study, The Telegraph (November 1, 2010) notes “The ‘harm to self’ categories cover mortality, poor health, impaired mental functioning, loss of friendships, and injury.

 

“The ‘harm to others’ categories include crime, environmental damage, family conflict, and decline in community cohesion.”

 

By these standards, Nutt concludes heroin, crack, and crystal meth cause the most harm to individuals, while alcohol, heroin and crack cause more harm to others.

 

Overall, Nutt says alcohol is the most damaging drug.

BOOZE:

SOME NUMBERS

Alcohol sales in Canada March 2007: $16 billion

 

Change this is from 2006: + 5%

 

Percentage of all alcohol sales coming from beer in 2007: 47%

 

In 1997: 52%

 

Number of Canadians killed annually because of driving under the influence of alcohol as estimated by Mothers against Drunk Driving: 1,280 to 1,500