Alcohol Concern asks MPs for tighter control on TV ads

The charity will be writing to the members of the all-party group on alcohol misuse to invite them to the meeting.

An alcohol ban, like the ruling to ban junk food advertising during TV programmes targeting children, would cost media owners millions of pounds in lost billings. It has been calculated that the junk food ban alone will create a shortfall in revenues of up to £39m for broadcasters.

Frank Soodeen, campaigns officer at Alcohol Concern, said: "For some time now we've been calling for a pre-watershed ban on alcohol advertising but it's only now, with Ofcom taking a more robust approach to their child protection obligations, that there might be the space to get this through.

"Members of the all-party group on alcohol misuse will be gathering on the 12th to thrash out the some of the political arguments on either side and we should be in a better position afterwards to judge the climate. But we're certainly very optimistic."

The regulator introduced the ban on junk food advertising following a lengthy consultation. It decided has decided that the best way to reduce the exposure of junk food to children is by enforcing a total ban on advertising in and around all programmes of particular appeal to children under the age of 16. This includes children's programming, dedicated children's channels, as well as youth-orientated and adult programmes that could appeal to children.

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