Banning booze ads the best way to stop binge drinking
Replacing liquor brand advertising with responsible messages would go further than a tax on port and sherry to reduce
teenage binge drinking, Green MP Nandor Tanczos said today.
The Green Youth Affairs spokesperson repeated his calls for liquor advertising to be banned from television and radio as
the Advertising Standards Authority heard the Green Party's submission to the review of liquor advertising.
The Green Party is advocating that all alcohol brand advertising on television and radio be banned. It should be
replaced by health promotion advertising emphasising moderation and responsible use and a policy focus on minimising the
harm caused by the effects of alcohol use.
"We have a problem in New Zealand of teenagers and adults drinking to excess," said Nandor.
"We are relentlessly sold the message that you are not cool if you don't drink. Unfortunately, people take that crap in.
"Some liquor ads depict a drinking utopia of endless parties, endless good times and endless beers. To say that it
doesn't influence the drinking culture of young people is just rubbish.
"It's not hard to see why so many people think it's cool to get legless when they're constantly exposed to hyped-up
booze promotions.
"Advocating and promoting a responsible approach to drinking would help to reduce the problems of excessive consumption
while allowing people freedom of choice."