UK: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACDM) targets breweries sponsoring sporting events

A Government advisory panel has called for a ban on breweries sponsoring sporting events and a ban on TV advertising for alcohol, the Morning Advertiser communicated September 14.

ACMD also calls for measures such as raising duty on alcohol and hard-hitting lessons for school children on the dangers of excessive drinking.

“We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled,” said Dr Laurence Gruer, chairman of the ACMD.

The ACMD says the measures are needed to cut a dangerous rise in alcohol-related disease.

The report says: "Given the continuing rise in the prevalence of alcohol-related health problems and the high levels of drinking among young people, we recommend that a much stricter code for alcohol advertising (including via the internet) and sponsorship should be established.

"This would include prohibiting alcohol advertising on TV or in cinemas showing films to under-18s and prohibiting sponsorship by alcohol companies of sports or music events attended or watched by under-18s.”

Dr Laurence Gruer, chairman of the ACMD, said: "We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years, particularly among young women, our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled.

"We are also seeing across the whole of the UK a dramatic rise in the amount of cirrhosis of the liver that's caused by chronic drinking and we are now the fastest growing country in Europe in terms of alcoholic cirrhosis."

16 September, 2006