Globalisation:Democracy Institute:Alcohol
Contents
Democracy Institute On Alcohol
The Democracy Institute has various articles on the subject of alcohol and its issues and most come to the same conclusion that something has to be done about the consumption and impacts of alcohol.
A Ban on Alcohol Advertising
The British Medical Association has called for a ban on advertising alcohol in a bid to reduce alcohol related issues, and the worrying consumption of alcoholic beverages consumed each week in today’s society. Market advertising is some what promoting drinking alcohol, but does not expose the problems alcohol has on people's body and mind.“(BMA) believes that alcohol – the nation’s favourite drug –should be subjected to the same advertising rules as tobacco” [1]. In the United Kingdom there are three major issues which impact on people's health, thus being alcohol, tobacco and obesity. In this area one will focus specifically on how alcohol is represented in contemporary societies. The BMA believes that by banning advertising ‘Identifies effective ways of protecting young people from the influence of alcohol promotion and marketing’. [2]. What is evident from this claim is it has undergone much scrutiny and may not be the right path to reducing alcohol consumption and related issues.
The public health community's attidude is based largely on the work of Ledermann who created the hierarchy effects model, which has been used in favour of their arguement that alcohol advertising should be banned. This has come under fire from the Democracy institute as they believe this model has various flaws. Ledermann stated there was a link between alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse and how people's decision making is effected by advertisment. Researchers Skog and Makela claim does not take into account all parts of society, " Ledermann’s claim was not validated by Scandinavian data... could not explain abstainers"[3].Ledermann' s model shows what countries are similar to one another in alochol their alcohol consumptions, but what is evident is their are major differnces in the data. For example Italy and Ireland are similar, but the model does not take into account that there is more abusers and abstainers in Ireland, but the Irish consumes the same amount as Itailian citzens. What is apparent is the BMA has used this model to claim alcohol advertising should be banned, but a problem with this statement is there are flaws within their data, and therefore their claim is some what based on inadequate findings.
Case Studies
Based on the data and findings, the BMA has reported that there is a link between advertising increasing the alcohol consumption of viewers, the Democracy Institue has various issues with this statement. There has been a variety of studies carried out on this contested topic. Connelly in 1994 tried to link advertising having a effect on consumor consumption. What was found was that there was no link.
Why the Democracy Institue Contests
Through out this BMA report teh democracy institue has questioned their view on banning alcohol advertising, one could wonder is there a reason behind disclaiming this report, or is it to educate citizens that the increase in alcohol consumption can not be soley blamed on advertising companies.
Notes
- ↑ Patrick Basham &John Luik, ”[1]”, Democracy Institute Social Risk Series Paper, September 2009, accessed 11 February 2010
- ↑ Patrick Basham &John Luik, ”[2]”, Democracy Institute Social Risk Series Paper, September 2009, accessed 11 February 2010
- ↑ Patrick Basham &John Luik,”[3]”, Democracy Institute Social Risk Series Paper, September 2009, page 5 accessed 11 February 2010
