Greens push for bans on liquor advertising

Date
    January 3, 2014


The Greens will push for a ban on the promotion of alcohol in sport, arguing that it provides a loophole for the alcohol industry to target children.

Greens health spokesman Richard Di Natale said he would move for a Senate inquiry into alcohol promotion to children when Federal Parliament returns next month.      :)


Senator Di Natale said there was growing community concern about drunken violence and other alcohol-related problems.


The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice does not allow alcohol advertising before 8.30pm, but in what Senator Di Natale called ''a huge loophole'', alcohol ads can be shown at any time of day as part of a live sporting broadcast.

Senator Di Natale said this meant thousands of children being exposed to alcohol advertising while watching sporting events, such as the final Ashes Test, which begins in Sydney on Friday. ''A young child who sits down to watch that will be bombarded with messages encouraging them to drink,'' he said. ''That's a huge problem, and that loophole needs to be closed.''

Senator Di Natale said the inquiry would also consider whether a ban or tougher regulations on sports sponsorship were necessary.

"Our major codes continue to promote alcohol consumption to a very young and impressionable audience," he said.      :(

Carlton United Breweries sponsors Cricket Australia, the AFL and NRL. The NRL is also sponsored by Campari.

Senator Di Natale called on those sporting bodies to follow the example of the football A-League and Netball Australia in refusing alcohol sponsorship.

The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol has long called for a ban on alcohol advertising during live sport. Its co-chairman, Todd Harper, said an inquiry was needed.

''Given the rates of harm that we're seeing with young people, we really need to do much better in the way we control promotion of alcohol to young people," he said.

More than 94 per cent of students aged 12 to 17 report having seen alcohol advertising on television.

The alliance says half of all alcohol advertising appears during children's popular viewing times.

Mike Daube, the Public Health Association of Australia's spokesman on alcohol, also backed the push for an inquiry, saying major sporting codes were ''swimming'' in alcohol sponsorship.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/greens-push-for-bans-on-liquor-advertising-20140102-307xs.html#ixzz2pHGDsPC5

Its another tick, for the Australian Greens.      [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I am no green, but I am all in favour of that

well its hardly rocket science and its been on the agenda since they banned cigarette advertising..as for sport they are a disgrace..all the stars that are in trouble one way or another its all alcohol related..

and I for one have always said grog kills more people especially innocent people than smoking will ever do.

not sure that advertising will make that much difference..to our outstanding record of alcohol related problems.

but somewhere along the line someone will lose a lot of money wont they? and thats what its all about at the end of the day.

Family First also took the stance of closing this loophole as far back as 2004. Fielding spoke out about it at least once.

I expect that this would enjoy some broad support across the minor parties. It seems that the major parties are not yet on board.

I think closing this loophole would be a good idea. The law should be consistent.

Betting is another scourge that mars our sports coverage. What are we teaching our kids - that drinking alcohol and betting should be encouraged?

This is a perfect example of why I dislike the greens so much.


Bam wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 1:25pm:

Family First also took the stance of closing this loophole as far back as 2004. Fielding spoke out about it at least once. I expect that this would enjoy some broad support across the minor parties. It seems that the major parties are not yet on board. I think closing this loophole would be a good idea. The law should be consistent. Betting is another scourge that mars our sports coverage. What are we teaching our kids - that drinking alcohol and betting should be encouraged?

It is negligent to believe that we can just shelter children from alcohol and gambling their entire lives.
I'm against the thought of banning alcohol advertising and gambling, it should be up to the parents and schools to properly educate children and individuals on the ethics that are to be expected associating with alcohol and gambling.

Lets face it..booze and drug fueled violence fills our emergency departments on weekends and during holiday periods as well as destroys families.
Banning advertising is a beginning but we now have a PM who Coward punched Arab Joe during a Rugby match at uni and threatened to beat a woman senseless during the same period and there is no evidence that Abbott's violent behaviour was fueled by booze and drugs. We also know that it wasn't roid rage because he's a scrawny little runt.

Its a great idea to push for but once again the greens grab other parties ideas and try to pass them off as their own...

As usual cods is 100% spot on about these (so called) sports stars....

Also on these talk back shows, the ABC, morning shows like "good morning Australia " are just sickening about the way they talk about alcohol and how they got drunk and laugh about it on national TV as though it's some great Australian event...

But reality is, is that drunk people are ugly and disgusting in behaviours...

but the media try and push it as some sort of hero activity... children are listening and watching ...

As a party on its way out, the Greens are trying everything they can think of to appeal to a wider audience.
Nobody's applauding any more.

You can sign the Kelly's petition at Change.org

In this instance I'm in agreement with the Greens

Should be warning labels all over those nice labels -- nice graphic warnings showing kids deprived of opportunity life-long because they had one or more alcoholic parents

warnings showing kids living in squalor and humiliation because all dad's money goes on booze and decent clothing, shoes, dental work, food, housing etc. rank way down dad's list of priorities

warnings showing kids depressed and suicidal at eight years of age because of the destruction wrought on their lives by alcoholic parents

warnings showing kids beaten, bruised, beyond tears, hungry, in rags, living in poo-holes because dad and possibly mum are useless drunks

warnings showing kids being raped by dad's mates while dad's blotto over by the bar-b-que pit or vomiting his guts out down the back yard

Damn right I support the Greens and anyone else who steps up against the alcoholic scourge

How many car accidents

bashings

fires

rapes

murders

larceny

etc.

are attributable to alcohol ?


Way too many

Innumerable



And while we're on the subject, let's look at medical error

Doctors kill between 18,000 and 54,000 Aussies every year

In 1995, the figure 18,000 was tabled in Parliament and said to be a major under-estimation

Road deaths, by comparison, were approx. 1,500 in 2008


One day, you or someone you love might need to go to hospital, no matter how healthy you or they might be now

You need to acquaint yourself with the facts and advice provided by the Medical Error Action Group

click all over the place.  Wherever you land will shock you --  this information will shock and scare you

http://www.medicalerroraustralia.com/



Between 18,000 and 54,000 deaths per annum ?


Tell the Greens to get busy slapping warning labels on doctors and hospitals too -- urgently

wowsers

cods wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 7:36am:

well its hardly rocket science and its been on the agenda since they banned cigarette advertising..as for sport they are a disgrace..all the stars that are in trouble one way or another its all alcohol related.. and I for one have always said grog kills more people especially innocent people than smoking will ever do. not sure that advertising will make that much difference..to our outstanding record of alcohol related problems. but somewhere along the line someone will lose a lot of money wont they? and thats what its all about at the end of the day.

So you agree with the Greens on this one Cods?

Cliff48 wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 4:30pm:

cods wrote on Jan 3rd, 2014 at 7:36am: well its hardly rocket science and its been on the agenda since they banned cigarette advertising..as for sport they are a disgrace..all the stars that are in trouble one way or another its all alcohol related.. and I for one have always said grog kills more people especially innocent people than smoking will ever do. not sure that advertising will make that much difference..to our outstanding record of alcohol related problems. but somewhere along the line someone will lose a lot of money wont they? and thats what its all about at the end of the day. So you agree with the Greens on this one Cods?

No, the greens agree with cods...

What are your views on it?

Or are you just here trolling?

True Blue... wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 5:07pm:

Cliff48 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2014 at 4:30pm: cods wrote on Jan 3rd, 2014 at 7:36am: well its hardly rocket science and its been on the agenda since they banned cigarette advertising..as for sport they are a disgrace..all the stars that are in trouble one way or another its all alcohol related.. and I for one have always said grog kills more people especially innocent people than smoking will ever do. not sure that advertising will make that much difference..to our outstanding record of alcohol related problems. but somewhere along the line someone will lose a lot of money wont they? and thats what its all about at the end of the day. So you agree with the Greens on this one Cods? No, the greens agree with cods... What are your views on it? Or are you just here trolling?

Not trolling blue, just wanting Cods to admit that she actually agrees with the Greens on something ...   rather than commenting with weasel words to avoid doing so.

LaQuinn wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 2:02pm:

This is a perfect example of why I dislike the greens so much. Bam wrote on Jan 3rd, 2014 at 1:25pm: Family First also took the stance of closing this loophole as far back as 2004. Fielding spoke out about it at least once. I expect that this would enjoy some broad support across the minor parties. It seems that the major parties are not yet on board. I think closing this loophole would be a good idea. The law should be consistent. Betting is another scourge that mars our sports coverage. What are we teaching our kids - that drinking alcohol and betting should be encouraged? It is negligent to believe that we can just shelter children from alcohol and gambling their entire lives. I'm against the thought of banning alcohol advertising and gambling, it should be up to the parents and schools to properly educate children and individuals on the ethics that are to be expected associating with alcohol and gambling.

I do not believe that we should shelter children from these adult endeavours, but it's quite another thing when it's just about impossible to watch half an hour of a sports telecast of any major sport during daytime viewing hours without alcohol or gambling ads being shown. Surely it's a bit over the top for these vice industries to be so prominent in daytime advertising?

I too am sickened by the gambling adds during televised sport, allowed by the previous labor/greens government. Thank god they are not in power any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

adelcrow wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 2:13pm:

Lets face it..booze and drug fueled violence fills our emergency departments on weekends and during holiday periods as well as destroys families. Banning advertising is a beginning but we now have a PM who Coward punched Arab Joe during a Rugby match at uni and threatened to beat a woman senseless during the same period and there is no evidence that Abbott's violent behaviour was fueled by booze and drugs. We also know that it wasn't roid rage because he's a scrawny little runt.

We can see by your stupid post that you have a illegal drug related problem!

De-registered User wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 8:05pm:

I too am sickened by the gambling adds during televised sport, allowed by the previous labor/greens government. Thank god they are not in power any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rather a long bow to draw to blame the ALP and Greens for gambling advertisements. Gambling ads during sports telecasts were also allowed during the term of the Howard government and remain permitted now.

If you disagree, please indicate by citing the name of the Act and its number the specific legislation that was passed during the 42nd or 43rd parliaments that enabled this.

wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 7:13am:

Its another tick, for the Australian Greens.      [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Yeah, because by not advertising alcohol, people will simply cease buying it. Moron...   ::)

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 8:38pm:

wrote on Jan 3rd, 2014 at 7:13am: Its another tick, for the Australian Greens.      [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Yeah, because by not advertising alcohol, people will simply cease buying it. Moron...   ::)

not at all ... they simple cease associating it with sports .. try to keep up armpitt.

Nanny state at its finest.

They love a bit of Nanny State do the Greens.

Here's a thing - if I watch the Budweiser FA Cup football. I watch the match - I am still absolutely not inclined to go and buy Budweiser.
No kid will either think - how awersome, let's buy Budweiser.

The liquor companies provide good investment into sports and that money in turn is shared on development programmes.

What next?
Ban McDonalds from advertising or sponsoring school teams because they might get fat?

Thats the problem with nanny states, it never ends.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 8:59pm:

Nanny state at its finest. They love a bit of Nanny State do the Greens. Here's a thing - if I watch the Budweiser FA Cup football. I watch the match - I am still absolutely not inclined to go and buy Budweiser. No kid will either think - how awersome, let's buy Budweiser. The liquor companies provide good investment into sports and that money in turn is shared on development programmes. What next? Ban McDonalds from advertising or sponsoring school teams because they might get fat? Thats the problem with nanny states, it never ends.

why is that a problem?

Because there needs to be personal freedom and personal responsibility.

Australia in all honesty has a tonne more laws than here.

I mean seriously, you can't be in-game online in Australia.

Last year I was watching a Premier League match, went into my William Hill account and got the message

"You are accessing from an Australian IP Address. Under Australian Government legislation we cannot accept an online bet for a match in progress. Please contact an administrator for any assistance"

So apparently we need a Government to tell us when we can and can't bet on a match because we might get a little crazy and bet too much...

It's astounding some of the levels of nanny state that exist in Australia.

You know me, sure I criticise Australia, but its only out of wanting the place to be a damn sight better than it is.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 9:13pm:

Because there needs to be personal freedom and personal responsibility. Australia in all honesty has a tonne more laws than here. I mean seriously, you can't be in-game online in Australia. Last year I was watching a Premier League match, went into my William Hill account and got the message "You are accessing from an Australian IP Address. Under Australian Government legislation we cannot accept an online bet for a match in progress. Please contact an administrator for any assistance" So apparently we need a Government to tell us when we can and can't bet on a match because we might get a little crazy and bet too much... It's astounding some of the levels of nanny state that exist in Australia. You know me, sure I criticise Australia, but its only out of wanting the place to be a damn sight better than it is.

but there is personal freedom and responsibility .... you can bet online if you want too, you can drink if you want, that has nothing to do with the methodology of alcohol companies in trying to associate their products with elite athletes .... the fact remains that kids in Australia watch a lot of sport and kids are the ones most at risk of being influenced

tobacco advertising was banned years ago, people still smoke. There are however less and less younger kids taking up smoking.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2014 at 8:59pm:

Nanny state at its finest. They love a bit of Nanny State do the Greens. Here's a thing - if I watch the Budweiser FA Cup football. I watch the match - I am still absolutely not inclined to go and buy Budweiser. No kid will either think - how awersome, let's buy Budweiser. The liquor companies provide good investment into sports and that money in turn is shared on development programmes. What next? Ban McDonalds from advertising or sponsoring school teams because they might get fat? Thats the problem with nanny states, it never ends.

That's a fallacious argument. You're asserting that reducing or banning alcohol ads will lead to these as well.

Soon the muslims will take over and alcohol will be banned altogether ... problem solved http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/thumb.gif

I don't have any problem with banning alcohol advertising during sporting events on tv.

If we are serious about curbing violence caused by alcohol, we all should be behind this.

The less advertising for the consumption of alcohol, the better.

It is a cultural thing though, other countries that consume more alcohol than us, don't have these same problems, why? We don't seem to be able to educate our young people about responsible drinking. We should be telling kids that it's not necessary to get sh1t faced to have fun.

Why the aggression? Why glorify the biff?

I think some anger management and education about alcohol would be a good start.

Alcohol advertising on TV is already banned before 9.30 pm. What is being proposed is the removal of an exemption to that ban.

I have a simple question. Can anyone come up with any good reason to retain this exemption?

Suppose this exemption is removed. Will sports suffer from the potential withdrawal of alcohol sponsorship? I doubt it. It was common for major sports to be sponsored by tobacco companies until about 20 years ago when this was banned. These sports seem to be doing okay without it.

Bam wrote on Jan 4^th, 2014 at 8:03am:

Suppose this exemption is removed. Will sports suffer from the potential withdrawal of alcohol sponsorship? I doubt it. It was common for major sports to be sponsored by tobacco companies until about 20 years ago when this was banned. These sports seem to be doing okay without it.

someone else will take the reigns ... there is to much money in sports anyway.

Gambling and booze should never be advertised during sporting events.

Why not push for bans on fast food advertising? Why should I have to pay upwards of $70 a bottle for half decent whiskey because some idiots can't control themselves? Education not prohibition, reality is the near tea totaller is the last man standing and gets the girls, why don't we see THAT addy? Sex is more fun than drunk.

I can see this occurring eventually, with or without the Greens. The media grab hold of a subject and just keep pushing it until it becomes law. It's happening with gay marriage, it happened with taking punching out of the NRL, it happened with climate change etc. The media will achieve it by showing more and more drunken violence until it gains overwhelming popular support.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jan 4^th, 2014 at 5:38am:

It is a cultural thing though, other countries that consume more alcohol than us, don't have these same problems, why? We don't seem to be able to educate our young people about responsible drinking. We should be telling kids that it's not necessary to get sh1t faced to have fun.

We're caught between a rock and a hard place - we need draconian laws re: drinking to (attempt to) curb the abos, yet it's these laws that present alcohol as an enticing forbidden fruit to everyone else.

So there's your answer to the million dollar question of why "other countries" can get away with relaxed licensing and street drinking laws - they don't have abos to contend with.  See how shitfaced they get on the street while it is outlawed, and one can only imagine the carnage they would cause if it was legal.  Few would support two sets of laws, so everyone has to suffer.

I can't think of a much less effective means to tackle a problem than tinkering with advertising, but if it helps avoid the uncomfortable truth, carry on.