BMA calls for ban on drink ads

The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling on the government to impose a complete ban on alcohol advertising.

Having successfully lobbied for an end to tobacco advertising, the BMA has now turned its attentions to the besieged drinks industry which it claims is encouraging underage and binge-drinking.

Delegates, made up of GPs, consultants and medical students, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion put forward at the BMA Annual Representatives Meeting.

A BMA spokesperson said: "The BMA believes that because of the damaging effect of alcohol has on the health of our society and the rising levels of binge-drinking among the young that the government should legislate a ban on the advertising of alcohol as it has done for cigarettes."

With the publication of the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy imminent and the prospect of government intervention with regards to drinks marketing a very real possibility, the decision by the BMA could hardly have come at a worse time for drinks manufacturers keen to retain the benefits of self-regulation.

John Roberts, beer and brands director at Fuller's, said: "It's ridiculous. Tobacco in moderation kills but drinking in moderation is potentially quite good for you, as the BMA has already suggested - it is contradicting itself.

"If you have too many crisps it is bad for you so should we ban advertising for them too? Where do we draw the line?"

A spokesman for The Portman Group said: "We don't believe there is a need for further restrictions on alcohol advertising. Rules currently exist to regulate advertising and are enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority, the radio authority and the independent television commission.

"These contain special rules regulating alcoholic drinks such as that the advert should not encourage excessive drinking and should not be directed at under-18s.

"It is important that the industry continues to work within these rules."