Promotion under fire as BMA calls for ban on drinks marketing

Should all alcohol-related advertising and promotional activity be banned? The British Medical Association think so - calling for a ban in the UK…

This BBC video explains why the objections that the BMA has to drinks marketing - and also highlights the potential downsides for businesses (not just the drinks companies).

The BMA say the ban is essential as alcohol is now one of the leading causes of early death and disability in the UK. They estimate the cost to the NHS at over £3bn per year, compared with the £800m which the drinks industry spends on promotion each year.

There are lots of issues raised in this story, which is covered in some detail by the Guardian here. These include:

- The social responsibility of the drinks companies
- The impact on the revenues of businesses and organisations which rely on drinks advertising for a substantial part of their income
- Whether an industry should be self-regulated (as the drinks industry is in the UK currently) or subject to legislation
- The nature and effectiveness of the marketing mix employed by the drinks companies (of the £800m, only one quarter is spent on direct advertising)