Are Australian regulatory codes adequate in scope to protect youth from alcohol advertising?

Jongenelis, Michelle; Pierce, Hannah; Keric, Danica; Stafford, Julia; Jongenelis, Gregory; Pettigrew, Simone

doi:10.1002/hpja.410

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These findings are in line with more recent evidence [48] which affirms alcohol companies still use thematic content on their digital advertisements, which are known to be attractive to children and young people. In a recent study, which was published too late to be retrieved for our review, by Jongenelis et al [49], 94% of the 628 analyzed Australian alcohol ads were found violating at least one AARB Code provision, indicating ineffectiveness of the ABAC self-regulatory codes. Another study by Russell et al [50], analyzing top 100 popular videos on TikTok with the hashtag #alcohol, found 98% expressed pro-alcohol sentiment and 69% conveyed positive experiences of alcohol, thus demonstrating a propensity to promote rapid consumption of alcohol drinks, likely going against the platform's alcohol advertising policies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effectiveness of Regulatory Policies on Online/Digital/Internet-Mediated Alcohol Marketing: a Systematic Review

Krnel

Levičnik

Dalen³

et al. 2023

J Epidemiol Glob Health

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Background The rapid growth of social networking sites and video sharing platforms has created an opportunity for the alcohol industry to employ advanced advertising and marketing approaches to target their audiences, increasingly blurring the lines between commercial marketing and user-generated content, which poses a challenge for effective regulation. Methods We conducted a systematic search through three peer-reviewed journal databases (WoS, PubMed, Scopus). Studies were included if published in English, after 2004, and assessed statutory regulation or voluntary industry codes, enacted by an EU or nation’s governmental agency or private entity, and with the intent to restrict digital alcohol advertising. In addition, we conducted a manual search of gray literature. Results A total of 4690 records were identified. After duplicate removal and full-text assessment, 14 articles were examined. Our findings indicate that children and adolescents may often be exposed to alcohol advertisements on social media and websites due to industry’s self-regulatory age-affirmation systems being largely ineffective at preventing under-aged access. Cases of self-regulatory violations by the alcohol industry, and increasingly innovative ‘gray-area’ advertising approaches have also been noted. Additionally, research illustrates a lack of developed statutory restrictions of digital alcohol advertising and instead continued reliance on voluntary industry self-regulation. Conclusions There is a substantial need for further research to examine the effectiveness of digital alcohol advertising restrictions in social media, websites and image/video sharing platforms. Moreover, there is a necessity for countries to develop comprehensive statutory frameworks, which would effectively restrict and monitor rapidly advancing digital alcohol advertising practices on new digital media.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effectiveness of Regulatory Policies on Online/Digital/Internet-Mediated Alcohol Marketing: a Systematic Review

Krnel

Levičnik

Dalen³

et al. 2023

J Epidemiol Glob Health

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“…This research found that government‐led legislation regulating the promotion of ZAPs is limited, and instead most of the relevant codes were managed by alcohol and advertising industries. The gaps found in self‐regulatory systems for managing alcohol marketing include their lack of independence, being voluntary in nature, lack of monitoring and providing no sanctions [70]. When a complaint is made to ABAC, the complaint is assessed by three of the five members of the Adjudication Panel, which includes an adjudicator with public health expertise [71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Falling through the cracks: How do policies for alcohol marketing apply to zero alcohol products in Australia?

Bury,

Keric,

Riesenberg

et al. 2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IssuesThere is a decline in youth drinking, but also a causal link between alcohol marketing and drinking among young people. Therefore, novel alcohol marketing strategies should be scrutinised, particularly where children are exposed. This includes marketing for zero‐alcohol products (ZAP) (containing 0.00% to 1.15% alcohol by volume), which has expanded considerably in recent times. This review examines how the current industry‐managed regulatory approach to alcohol marketing applies to ZAPs in Western Australia.ApproachThe marketing mix (four Ps of marketing: product, promotion, place, price) was used as a framework to examine federal and state government policies and industry managed codes. Policies were included if they applied to marketing of alcohol products, for example, product labelling, promotion and advertising across various media, the place of purchase and pricing measures (taxation).Key FindingsZAPs were inconsistently defined, meaning that products between 0.05% and 1.15% alcohol by volume were covered under some but not all alcohol policy measures, and application to products under 0.5% alcohol by volume was limited.ImplicationsGovernment policy should more clearly define alcohol marketing and whether ZAPs and other alcohol brand extensions should be treated in the same way as alcoholic products.ConclusionIn Western Australia, the ways in which alcohol policy measures apply to ZAPs are limited and close attention must be paid to how ZAPs may provide additional marketing opportunities for the alcohol industry.

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“…Many of the submissions also stated that Australia's current co-regulatory approach to alcohol advertising is sufficient, without providing any evidence to demonstrate that this approach is effective in reducing alcohol-related harms. The submitters made these claims despite the strong body of evidence demonstrating that quasi-regulatory, industry-led approaches to alcohol advertising, both in Australia and internationally, are ineffective at protecting consumers [15,[48][49][50][51][52].…”

Section: Industry Assertion 4: 'Strong Alcohol Advertising Regulation...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unpacking assertions made by the alcohol industry and how they make them: An analysis of submissions into Australia's National Alcohol Strategy

Miller

Livingston

Maganja

et al. 2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IntroductionAlcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. One significant barrier to the implementation of evidence‐based alcohol policy is alcohol industry opposition. Making submissions to national policy processes is one way in which the industry exert influence. The aim of this study was to analyse alcohol industry submissions into Australia's National Alcohol Strategy to determine key assertions made by the alcohol industry and the ways in which they use evidence and refute the effectiveness of public health policies to make their claims.MethodsSubmissions made by alcohol industry actors (n = 12) were analysed using content analysis to determine key industry assertions. A pre‐existing framework on alcohol industry use of evidence was then applied to analyse the evidentiary practices used to make these assertions.ResultsFive common industry assertions were identified: ‘Drinking alcohol in moderation has health benefits’; ‘Alcohol isn't the cause of violence’; ‘Targeted initiatives, not population level alcohol policies, are needed’; ‘Strong alcohol advertising regulations are not necessary’; and ‘Minimum unit price and pricing and taxation policies more broadly are not needed’. The industry systematically manipulated, misused and ignored evidence throughout their submissions.Discussion and ConclusionsThe alcohol industry is misusing evidence in their submissions to government consultations to make their assertions about alcohol policy. It is therefore essential that industry submissions are scrutinised and not accepted on face value. Additionally, it is suggested that the alcohol industry requires a distinct model of governance similarly to that which regulates the tobacco industry to prevent their attempts to undermine evidence‐based public health policy.

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Are Australian regulatory codes adequate in scope to protect youth from alcohol advertising?

Abstract: This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

Effectiveness of Regulatory Policies on Online/Digital/Internet-Mediated Alcohol Marketing: a Systematic Review

Effectiveness of Regulatory Policies on Online/Digital/Internet-Mediated Alcohol Marketing: a Systematic Review

Falling through the cracks: How do policies for alcohol marketing apply to zero alcohol products in Australia?

Unpacking assertions made by the alcohol industry and how they make them: An analysis of submissions into Australia's National Alcohol Strategy

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