New York, USA: Alcohol Ads Banned from NYC Property
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a ban on alcohol advertisements on NYC property. Alcohol ads would no longer be allowed on bus shelters, newsstands, phone booths and LinkNYC kiosks.
There’s no doubt that far too many New Yorkers struggle with serious substance misuse issues, among them [… alcohol use],” said mayor Bill de Blasio, while announcing the ban, as per New York Post.
The new ban takes effect immediately. However, existing advertisements are allowed to remain till the end of contract periods.
The mayor seeks to reaffirm the commitment to health equity and protection of well-being of all New Yorkers through this alcohol ad ban. This ban comes more than an year after the MTA banned alcohol advertisements from public transit in NYC.
While calling for the alcohol ad ban in public transit in 2017, activists drew notice to the alcohol harm caused to youth and vulnerable communities. These groups are specifically targeted by Big Alcohol through marketing campaigns.
Ads targeting youth glamorizes alcohol use and aims to build brand loyalty. Studies have continuously shown under-age alcohol use has both long-term and short-term negative effects. Alcohol control policy measures are scientifically proven to affect youth alcohol use and specifically the growing harmful habit of binge alcohol use.
Bans on alcohol advertisements is recommended by WHO as one of the 3 alcohol policy best buys for alcohol control.
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