Bid to ban alcohol advertising sparks backlash
SPORTS administrators, licensed clubs and broadcasters have warned a “nanny state” ban on all alcohol advertising in NSW would be out of step with the community and hurt grassroots sports.
Clubs NSW and Foxtel are among corporate giants urging the NSW Government not to introduce a total ban which is part of a bill being pushed by Christian Democratic Party leader Reverend Fred Nile.
If introduced the bill could bring alcohol advertising in line with laws around cigarettes banning them from TV and any public place they could be seen by children.
The bill has also sparked opposition from major sporting bodies including Netball Australia, Cricket Australia and Tennis Australia which are pitted against health advocates pushing for a ban.
Clubs NSW executive director Josh Landis said a ban on sponsorships and advertising could mean less funding for the grassroots sporting organisations.
Mr Landis said the Department of Industry had the power to stop inappropriate advertising.
Bruce Meagher, corporate affairs director at Foxtel, told parliament a NSW ban would simply push more advertising dollars into social media where experts were already worried ads were reaching children.
He said the bill was “completely out of step” with com- munity expectations. Australian Medical Association NSW president Brad Frankum said “outrageous” advertising was pushing people to buy more alcohol than they intended.
He said research showed more than 60 per cent of NSW adults supported a TV ban from 8.30pm and phasing it out of sporting events.