| ADCA says Health is the Issue – NOT Alcohol Sponsorships |
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“The health of all Australians is worth much more than the estimated loss to sporting codes of $300 million a year in sponsorships,” Mr David Templeman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) said today.
Responding to unofficial media reports that the National Preventative Health Taskforce has recommended the banning of alcohol sponsorship of sporting and cultural events, Mr Templeman said the critical issue was about the health and wellbeing of our communities, and tackling the burgeoning problem of alcohol-related harm. “The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon PM, this week announced she had only received the Taskforce Report in early July and that recommendations were extensive,” Mr Templeman said. “ADCA is encouraged that the Minister is taking the time to consider the recommendations carefully before making any announcement.” In a submission to the Taskforce on 22 December 2008, ADCA took a strong stance on a wide range of alcohol-related issues, including the urgent need to review alcohol advertisng and sponsorship of major sporting events to discourage excessive or binge drinking. “The annual cost to the Australian economy from alcohol-related matters is $15.3 billion which is well in excess of the projected revenue loss to sporting codes, television networks, and stadium venues,” Mr Templeman said. “The alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector believes the final report will provide an opportunity to harness the resources of government, community groups, non-government organisations (NGO), prevention and treatment services, sporting groups, industry representatives, the community, and the media to join together to tackle this issue.” Mr Templeman said it was also imperative that any advertisements promoting alcohol consumption be rigorously tested by experts from within the AOD and health sectors to ensure they have no strong or evident appeal to children, and don’t suggest that alcohol contributes to personal, business, social, sporting, sexual or other success in life. Mr Templeman said that ADCA encourages a system of government regulation of advertising and promotion of alcoholic beverages to reduce health and social harms as Alcohol is a drug – TOO! “Advertisements in any medium for alcoholic beverages should be required to include a series of warning messages about the potential harms of use, similar to what has been carried out within the tobacco industry,” Mr Templeman said. Media Enquiries: Brian Flanagan, Manager Strategic Communications and Policy - Phone: 02 62159802 (W), 0400 860 058 (m) 17 July 2009 |
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