New research* from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has revealed only
one in four Australians are aware of a loophole that allows alcohol advertisements to air
during weekend sports programs before 8:30pm.

The loophole allows alcohol companies to use high-rating sports, including the AFL, which
begins on Thursday, to broadcast more than 1,500 additional alcohol advertisements each
season**. The RACP is concerned that children are the collateral damage in the marketing
campaigns of the big brewers and parents are being caught unawares.

The RACP President Dr Catherine Yelland said the loophole, part of the Commercial
Television Industry Code of Practice, needs to be closed.

“It is unacceptable that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) allow
this to happen,” explained Dr Yelland.

“On every other day of the week, during every other program on television, ACMA
recognises that alcohol advertisements are harmful to children and does not allow for them
to be shown before 8.30pm. Why are sports programs an exception?

“It is also a concern that the majority of parents appear to be unaware of this loophole. Many
most likely believe that their children are watching sports programs which are age
appropriate. The reality is however that the alcohol advertisements being aired are for a
much more mature audience.”

Dr Yelland said although alcohol advertisements were not the only factor, multiple studies
point to their health impact.

“We know exposure to alcohol advertising encourages children to start drinking earlier, to
binge drink more often and to start a journey toward established drinking and exposure to
other alcohol-related harms.

“It’s therefore not surprising that the peak age for the onset of alcohol use disorders is just
18 years old***.

Dr Yelland said alcohol companies have a tendency to heavily target the AFL, and other
sports including cricket and the NRL, with their marketing. A 2015 study** revealed there
were 1942 free-to-air alcohol advertisements during broadcasts of one season of AFL, of
which 47 per cent were aired between 6:00am and 8:29pm.

“With the AFL beginning this weekend, I’d encourage parents to keep a tally of how many
times they spot alcohol marketing, either at the ground, on a player’s singlet or on the TV. I
have no doubt the number will surprise and shock them.”

* Based on attitudinal research completed by Essential Media on behalf of the RACP in March 2017.
Sample size of 1004 respondents.
** Carr S, O’Brien K, Ferris J, et al. Child and adolescent exposure to alcohol advertising in Australia’s
major televised sports. Drug and Alcohol Review 2015: DOI: 10.1111/dar.12326.
*** Degenheart L, Hall W, Teesson M, Lynskey M. Alcohol use disorders in Australia: findings from
the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. NDARC Technical Report No. 97; 2000.