A new report from Alcohol Concern looks at how children and young people are at risk of being exposed to alcohol marketing and pro-drinking messages via the internet. Download New Media, New Problem
'The report reveals the growing importance to alcohol companies of social networking sites (SNSs) like Facebook and video sharing sites such as YouTube as a means of promoting their products, and the inadequacies of online age verification pages aimed at preventing under 18s from accessing content intended for adults.
It also highlights the frequent practice of users of SNSs posting pictures and descriptions of themselves drinking and being drunk, and asks why so many of us choose to publicise our alcohol consumption in this way.'
Recommendations suggest:
- Given their strong appeal to young people, official alcohol marketing should not be permitted on social networking sites
- Steps should be taken by alcohol producers and the administrators of social networking sites to end the unauthorised use of registered drinks trademarks, logos and advertising images
- Age affirmation pages are ineffective and better alternatives need to be found
- Health bodies need to counter official alcohol marketing and pro-drinking messages through new media themselves
Alcohol Concern and Our Life are urging people to write to their MPs to support a private members bill to limit the exposure of children to alcohol marketing.
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