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UK Government Considers Pre-9pm Watershed and Online Ban for Alcohol Advertising

Proposed to mirror junk food regulations, the curbs seek to reduce alcohol harm by shielding children from early-day adverts alongside online marketing

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Overview

  • Ministers are exploring 'partial restrictions' that could ban alcohol adverts before the 9pm watershed and prohibit paid online promotions
  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting will unveil the measures next week as part of his 10-year health plan aimed at prevention
  • Campaigners including Alcohol Change UK back the proposals, citing alcohol as a major health pollutant and urging stronger youth safeguards
  • Officials have ruled out including minimum unit pricing in the final health plan despite earlier consideration of the policy
  • Industry bodies warn the advertising curbs could deliver a hammer blow to pubs and beer firms and spur unintended consequences for struggling businesses