Alcohol advertising gets a new educational message. Instead of “drink our craftsmanship wisely”, commercial messages for alcoholic beverages will from now on be accompanied by the warning “alcohol abuse damages your health”. The sector announced this today, but ‘Het Belang van Limburg’ writes that according to Federal Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke, nothing has been decided yet.
The main purpose of the new message is to better inform consumers about the risks of alcohol abuse. “The new message is clearer, more powerful and more effective,” it said. Moreover, the same message is already used in France and is therefore already known to part of the Belgian population. Finally, the new communication fits into the Interfederal Plan 2023-2025 to combat harmful alcohol consumption.
Alcohol advertising in our country is regulated by an agreement, under which an educational message is mandatory. The Jury for Ethical Practices (JEP) supervises the inspection and can take preventive action or after complaints from consumers. In the event of a violation, the JEP can request an adjustment of the advertising message or stop its distribution.
Vandenbroucke not informed
The new slogan will be mandatory for everyone from July 1, with the exception of printed matter with the old educational message. There is still an adjustment period until January 1, 2025.
But the office of Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) was not aware of this, writes ‘Het Belang van Limburg’. “This is just a proposal that is being considered. The Superior Health Council is developing various options based on scientific evidence. The minister will ultimately decide, probably in April.”
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