FOPH plans ban on advertising alcohol at sporting events
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is planning a new national alcohol prevention program. The program also includes advertising restrictions. Alcohol advertisements will no longer be visible in media coverage of sporting events. The Swiss Advertising Association was not pleased with the FOPH’s plans.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) is planning a new national alcohol prevention program. Among other things, alcohol sales are to be banned after 9 pm. This also includes advertising restrictions: No more advertising for alcohol is to be visible during media coverage of sporting events. However, nothing has been decided yet: "The prevention program was leaked to the media through an indiscretion," Anne Lévy, Head of the Alcohol Section at the FOPH, told Werbewoche. "The plan is currently being drawn up with the involvement of around 50 organizations". It will be submitted to the Federal Council in the fall. If it approves the program, the details will have to be negotiated. "It is not yet possible to say what the implementation would look like in detail," Lévy continues. It is therefore not yet clear whether manufacturers of alcoholic beverages would no longer be allowed to advertise on perimeter boards or print sponsor names on players' jerseys.
According to the FOPH, the reason for the measure is that international studies have shown the effect of availability prevention. "In addition to traditional prevention, prevention in the form of availability restrictions or advertising restrictions is also effective," said Lévy.
The Swiss Advertising Association was not pleased with the FOPH's plans. "Even if the matter has not yet been decided, one thing is clear: as was to be expected, the FOPH is continuing to work on reducing freedom of communication," said spokesperson Piero Schäfer in a statement to Werbewoche. The so-called availability prevention is a further step towards patronizing the citizen.
By prohibiting sponsorship in the sports sector, countless ice hockey and football clubs, and even hornussen clubs, would run into financial difficulties and thus reduce or even stop their work with young people. However, this does not seem to play a role for the FOPH, Schäfer continues: "Prevention through meaningful sporting activities for young people is not part of the FOPH's remit. Perhaps there will soon be no more alcohol advertising in stadiums and on shirts, but lots of frustrated kids on the streets. And what they do is clear even without international studies".
According to the FOPH, the reason for the measure is that international studies have shown the effect of availability prevention. "In addition to traditional prevention, prevention in the form of availability restrictions or advertising restrictions is also effective," said Lévy.
The Swiss Advertising Association was not pleased with the FOPH's plans. "Even if the matter has not yet been decided, one thing is clear: as was to be expected, the FOPH is continuing to work on reducing freedom of communication," said spokesperson Piero Schäfer in a statement to Werbewoche. The so-called availability prevention is a further step towards patronizing the citizen.
By prohibiting sponsorship in the sports sector, countless ice hockey and football clubs, and even hornussen clubs, would run into financial difficulties and thus reduce or even stop their work with young people. However, this does not seem to play a role for the FOPH, Schäfer continues: "Prevention through meaningful sporting activities for young people is not part of the FOPH's remit. Perhaps there will soon be no more alcohol advertising in stadiums and on shirts, but lots of frustrated kids on the streets. And what they do is clear even without international studies".
