Row brews as councillor slams anti-drink adverts
ALCOHOL AWARNESS POSTERS CRITICISED FOR BEING ‘SHOCKINGLY MISOGYNIST’
A Sunderland councillor’s accusation that a poster warning young women of the dangers of alcohol is “shockingly misogynist” has been slammed by a political rival charged with protecting the city’s children.
Liberal Democrats have hit out over the poster campaign, which shows a young woman in her school uniform and then again as a young mum with the tagline: “Talk to your daughter about alcohol now, before it starts making decisions for her.”
Backed by Sunderland City Council and alcohol awareness organisation Balance North East, it is on show as part of a series of posters, including one featuring a boy, and backs a national call for young people to be educated about the dangers and impact drinking can have.
The Lib Dems have raised concerns after spotting the display in Sunderland’s railway station.
Coun Niall Hodson, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat Group, said: “In their rush to de-normalize and stigmatize alcohol use, Sunderland City Council have needlessly targeted young women in a shockingly misogynist way, suggesting to parents that if you don’t ‘help her make the right decisions’ your daughter will be some kind of victim.
“The poster depicts a young mother looking miserable.
“It says it is likely young women drinking alcohol will have decisions made for them, will be ‘pressurized into having unsafe sex’ and that they need help to ‘make the right choices’.
“Why would you want to reinforce these negative stereotypes?
“What on earth does this say about young women’s agency in 2018, and why do they feel the need to depict pregnancy and young mothers so negatively?
“I thought we were past this nonsense.
“The undercurrent of victim-blaming in the campaign is problematic too. “
But Councillor John Kelly, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, hit back and branded the Lib Dems’ comments as “tripe” and “political point scoring” on the back of health issues.
He said the campaign is part of efforts by the public health team in the city as it tackles underage drinking and teenage pregnancy rates, which have both been highlighted as prevalent issues in the city.
“We have a significant problem in Sunderland with young people suffering because of the consequences of alcohol and some of the highest figures in the country for alcohol-related illnesses,” he said.
“For the Lib Dems to target one poster, which is one of a series of posters, shows they are using this for political gain.
“We have got to protect our young people.”