There have been a few alcohol related advertisements bought to GrogWatch’s attention recently – and tricky ones, because they’re not advertising a specific alcoholic beverage.

Case in point:

You’ll remember that a couple of weeks ago GrogWatch reported on Strike Bowling Bar’s advertisement which begged you to discover your inner child, and then feed it booze.

Fortunately, we understand, GrogWatch was brought to the attention of the Director of Liquor Licensing who quickly was onto it, and the ad was gone. Strike agreed to remove the ad as it contravenes the Government’s guidelines around responsible liquor advertising and promotions, which state that some alcohol promotions can encourage the excessive and irresponsible consumption of alcohol, which in turn contributes to antisocial behaviour, alcohol-related violence and disorder, and adverse health effects.

Note: Since our original story the ad has reappeared in the form of posters plastered over various locations throughout the inner city. The Director of Liquor Licensing has informed GrogWatch that the posters, like the ad, are going. Thanks to all the GrogWatchers whose photographs of the posters they sent in enabled GrogWatch to seek redress from the licensing authorities.

While not advertising an alcoholic beverage per se, the ad is definitely not encouraging responsible consumption of alcohol. So there’s one avenue to take when confusion reigns – get a complaint in to the relevant Government Department in your state or territory – the one that deals with liquor licensing.

The other avenue is writing a complaint to the Advertising Standards Bureau. In the case of this advertisement, it breaches the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics by depicting material contrary to prevailing community standards on health or safety (Section 2.6).

And while technically the advertisement is for a venue and not an alcoholic beverage, the statement “discover your inner child, and then feed it booze” hardly presents a mature and responsible approach to the consumption of alcohol beverages. If you’re lucky, the Bureau might also agree that it breaches the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code.

You can also email GrogWatch and we’ll put it in – after all, you never know who might be reading it!

Until next week,

Sarah Jaggard
Community Mobilisation Policy Officer
 

Dear GrogWatch,

I thought you might find it interesting and rather alarming that whilst visiting my local Fitness First gym in WA the other day, I noticed advertisements in the toilets that promoted Pure Blonde. Specifically, Fitness First members exclusively could redeem some sort of online voucher/coupon and receive $5 off a carton of Pure Blonde at their local bottle-o.

This company has made the link between ‘low carb’ beer and physical fitness. This is creating further confusion amongst society by emphasising the ‘low carb, better for you’, belief that is currently held in our culture.

A little conflicting don’t you think?.....

Kara, WA

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NIDAC is calling for presentation, workshop and poster abstracts that address the Conference theme 'Beyond 2012: Leading the Way to Action'.

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Last shout for cheap drinkers
The Australian, 15 June 2011
When Northern Territory medico John Boffa recently endorsed a nationwide minimum price for alcohol at $1.20 a standard drink, he said most Australian drinkers wouldn't be affected.

Pubs fight back on floor price for grog
NT News, 16 June 2011
Pub owners have disputed a claim by the Territory Government that the price of beer would increase if a minimum price was set. The NT Australian Hotels Association supports a so-called floor price. Chief executive Amy Williamson said it would help reduce chronic alcohol abuse.

Nightclubs slam liquor licence rules
The Age, 17 June 12011
Nightclubs have become the latest industry group to turn to advertising in their battle against government regulation, using a revolving billboard opposite the MCG to push their message.

Grog cost hard to swallow
Canberra Times, 19 June 2011
You could pay for the National Broadband Network in a year with the amount of money Australians send down the gurgler as a result of alcohol abuse. Australian Education and Rehabilitation Foundation chief executive Michael Thorn said the organisation had spent three years trying to establish the previously unknown flow-on costs of harms caused to the families and employers of people who misused alcohol.

Kids blighted by alcohol damage
The Australian, 20 June 2011
Thousands of Australian children are likely suffering from undiagnosed alcohol-related birth defects. While the most tragic cases of fetal alcohol syndrome are obvious -- the key symptoms of growth deficiency and smaller than normal skull size are easy to recognise -- a large number of alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders continues to be missed by the medical profession.

Patient downs sanitiser
The Age, 20 June 2011
Hospitals are being urged to review their provision of alcohol-based hand rub after an alcoholic patient drank six bottles at The Alfred hospital - the alcohol equivalent of about 20 stubbies of beer.