Australian health advocates want alcohol advertising ban near schools

Health advocates recommend banning alcohol advertising near schools in Victoria, the nation’s most densely-populated and second most populous state. Cancer Council Victoria warns that student exposure to alcohol advertising can lead to binge drinking.

Cancer Council Victoria surveyed 4,400 Victorian students aged 12 – 17. Results showed that students exposed to alcohol advertising were 1.5 times more likely to engage in risky alcohol drinking behaviour.

Cancer Council Victoria’s legal policy adviser, Sarah Jackson, noted that other states and territories had proposed or implemented similar bans and that regulations were necessary since self-regulation had not succeeded.

Ms Jackson said, “We are aware of a lot of this type of advertising near schools. There is a really strong body of evidence that exposure to advertising leads to drinking at an earlier age or drinking more heavily and more frequently. It is having a really strong influence on kids and we think it is something the government needs to address. It is advertising we know kids cannot avoid — it is everywhere, they can’t switch it off and parents can’t control ­exposure to it.”

Ms Jackson said it would be appropriate to ban alcohol advertising at train stations, tram stops, and other transport infrastructure within 500m of schools.

In its submission to the ongoing review of Victoria’s liquor control act, Cancer Council Victoria requested extra limits on granting liquor licences, designating ‘saturation zones’ with a high risk of experiencing alcohol harm, and limiting advertising.