Alcohol Campaigns
The promotion of alcoholic beverages through media, as well as tobacco advertising, are known to be the most regulated forms of marketing. The target audience of these alcohol campaigns changed through the years, with some of the brands having a particular target demographic. Some countries even ban these campaigns all together.
The exposure of alcohol campaigns in print media, television, and on radio raises the question of the correlation of these advertisements and the actual consumption of alcohol. Some researches show that it is not proven that the advertising causes higher consumption. There were even some studies that show that using guilt or shame in ads to warn people against alcohol abuse can have reverse effects.
There have been as many anti drinking campaigns as alcohol campaigns. Health departments and non profit organisations make considerable effort to at least promote responsible drinking. But the studies show that these types of ads can actually cause viewers to distance themselves from the seriousness of the consequences of alcohol abuse, such as reckless driving under the influence.
Advertising of alcoholic drinks are also said to indicate changes in attitudes about drinking, particularly regarding young people. Under age alcoholic usage is a growing problem as well, what with the fact that about 45% of the commercials that teenagers view per year are about alcohol.
While there can be many causes to influence a young person's decision to consume or abuse alcohol, there is reason enough to believe that alcohol campaigns are one of them. Alcoholic advertising aids in creating an environment that promotes drinking, even at under age. Hence the promotion and B489advertising of alcohol still remains to be controlled.
