[Greens-Media] Media Release - ANPHA backs Greens call to close alcohol loophole

[Blyberg, Andrew (Sen R. Di Natale)]

Media Release

Dr Richard Di Natale
Greens Senator for Victoria

24/02/2014

ANPHA backs Greens call to close alcohol loophole

The Australian National Preventive Health Agency has today released a draft report on alcohol advertising. Australian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Richard Di Natale, said today that ANPHA's report is an endorsement of the Greens position on alcohol advertising.

"The time has come to get grog ads out of sport," said Senator Di Natale. 

"The Greens have long argued that we must close the bizarre loophole that allows grog to be promoted during live sport, even if that is during kids' viewing times. Today a new draft report from ANPHA has backed the Greens call to close the loophole."

The report's first recommendation is to: remove the exemption in the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice that allows for the direct advertising of alcohol products before 8:30pm as an accompaniment to the broadcast of live sporting events on weekends and public holidays.

"We have already decided as a community that kids should be protected from the promotion of products like alcohol, gambling and junk food, so it makes no sense at all to allow such a massive loophole.

"Industry self-regulation hasn't adequately protected the community but Tony Abbott now has the opportunity to prove that he can prioritise the welfare of families over the wishes of his friends in the big end of town.

"This country has spent the last couple of months debating how to deal with the harms of alcohol. Tony Abbott has said that alcohol policy is a state responsibility but sensible advertising restrictions are something that he could implement right now and have an impact."

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ANPHA's draft report: http://www.anpha.gov.au/internet/anpha/publishing.nsf/Content/news-20140224 

Media Contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600