General Article Alcohol marketing and children

Topic Selected: Alcohol
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Much of the debate around alcohol advertising concerns the possible effects on children and young people. The Advertising Codes prohibit the specific targeting of minors, but the ubiquity of alcohol advertising ensures that they can hardly miss it. Ofcom report that since a period of gradual decline of exposure to television alcohol advertising for children aged 10–15 from 2002 to 2006, 2007 to 2011 represented a period of absolute increase in exposure.[1] With the proliferation of online streaming services, there has also been shown to be a “substantial potential” for young people to be exposed to alcohol advertising through Internet television.[2] Research examining exposure to television alcohol advertising indicated that 10-to 15-year-olds in the UK were significantly more exposed to alcohol advertisements per viewing hour than adults (25 years and over).[3]

In the UK, the proportion of children drinking alcohol remains well above the European average.[4] Evidence shows that exp...

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