A ban on alcohol advertising would miss the point
12 June 2013
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Commenting on calls from Alcohol Concern to ban alcohol advertising at music and sporting events, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Alcohol Concern say that the current regulatory approach isn’t working and yet alcohol consumption has fallen by 16 per cent in the last decade and the proportion of school pupils who have drunk alcohol in the last week has halved since 2001.
“Alcohol Concern simply don’t understand the reasons why young people drink and they don’t understand how advertising works. Their ignorance and fanaticism leads them towards bone-headed prohibitions such as banning drinks sponsorship, which would be disastrous for many music festivals and sporting events.
“In addition to having some of the toughest advertising restrictions in the world, the UK also has some of the most punitive alcohol taxes. It is time to tell these taxpayer-funded temperance groups that enough is enough.”
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Communications Officer on 020 7799 8909 or 07766 221 268.
Notes to editors:
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Communications Officer on 020 7799 8909 or 07766 221 268.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“Alcohol Concern say that the current regulatory approach isn’t working and yet alcohol consumption has fallen by 16 per cent in the last decade and the proportion of school pupils who have drunk alcohol in the last week has halved since 2001.
“Alcohol Concern simply don’t understand the reasons why young people drink and they don’t understand how advertising works. Their ignorance and fanaticism leads them towards bone-headed prohibitions such as banning drinks sponsorship, which would be disastrous for many music festivals and sporting events.
“In addition to having some of the toughest advertising restrictions in the world, the UK also has some of the most punitive alcohol taxes. It is time to tell these taxpayer-funded temperance groups that enough is enough.”
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Communications Officer on 020 7799 8909 or 07766 221 268.
Notes to editors:
To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact Stephanie Lis, Communications Officer on 020 7799 8909 or 07766 221 268.
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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