Hands tied over alcohol ads
Alcohol ads on the backs of buses are ‘‘inconsistent’’ with Auckland Transport policy, but the councilcontrolled organisation is powerless to pull them. Buses have been seen around the city advertising the alcohol brands Brothers Beer, Corona and Selaks wines.
However, Auckland Transport’s advertising policy states that ads promoting alcohol brands or products ‘‘will not be approved, or permitted to remain on AT’s infrastructure, facilities or services’’. The alcohol advertisements come off the back of revelations that the council has money invested in two of the world’s biggest alcohol companies, SABMiller and Pernod Ricard, as well as British American Tobacco.
Ads appearing on Auckland buses operated by private contractor NZ Bus were not approved by Auckland Transport but were instead governed by a formal agreement between NZ Bus and outdoor media company QMS Media. However, that was soon to change with new contracts being rolled out across the Auckland region.
They will give Auckland Transport full ownership of all advertising space, with the ability to approve or decline advertising as it sees fit.
Alcohol advertising will not be allowed. Auckland Transport will take control of advertising contracts for buses in central Auckland in August 2017.