Not any time, any place, anywhere: Alcohol advertising curbs being considered by ministers as part of 10-year health plan

Daily Mail​

6 hours ago

A clampdown on alcohol advertising is being considered by ministers, it emerged yesterday.
In the latest sign of expansion of the 'nanny state', the Government confirmed it is looking at introducing 'partial restrictions' on booze ads among measures in its 10-year health plan.
A draft of the document, due to be released next week, also suggested introducing new restrictions on licensing hours for shops and introducing Scottish-style minimum unit pricing.
But Government sources yesterday ruled out these measures - though confirmed they were looking at curbs on alcohol advertising.
The exact details of what the restrictions would look like have not been finalised.
But critics last night lambasted the idea, and accused Labour of trying to 'hammer the final nail into the coffin' of the pub and beer industry.
The advertising restrictions could mirror those for junk food, which are due to come into force in January - having been repeatedly delayed.
It will mean adverts for 'less healthy' food and drink are banned before the watershed on TV, along with a total ban on paid-for online ads for junk food.
The proposals, first revealed by Sky News, are expected to form part of Health Secretary Wes Streeting's 10-year health plan, which he will unveil next week.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Mail last night: 'If the pub and beer industry hadn't suffered enough, Labour are trying to hammer the final nail into the coffin.'
And Tory shadow health minister Dr Caroline Johnson said: 'A complete ban on alcohol advertising would be absurd nanny statism from the Labour government.
'The Labour government should focus their attention on delivering NHS reform and finishing their 10 year plan, not wrapping up business in more red tape and regulations – particularly as they face their disastrous Jobs Tax and the looming spectre of the Employment's Rights Bill.
'The Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch's leadership, will always stand for common sense, and against government overreach. Labour should urgently set out what evidence there is for such a measure.'
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said last night: 'The 10-year health plan will not include a ban on alcohol advertising.
'We are exploring options for partial restrictions to bring it closer in line with advertising of unhealthy food.'
Slogans from some alcohol adverts have become almost as well known as the drinks
Last month a report warned that freedoms in Britain are declining at a faster rate than almost anywhere else in Europe.
The 'nanny state' index ranked the UK as the 7th worst place on the continent to eat, drink, smoke and vape.
The index, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre (EPICENTER), scored countries on how they regulate lifestyle choices.
As well as the junk food ad ban, other nanny state measures include a recent ban on sales of single-use or 'disposable' vapes - whether or not they contain nicotine.
Legislation is also making its way through Parliament which will ban tobacco sales to anybody born on or after January 1 2009.
And Sir Keir Starmer wants to introduce supervised toothbrushing for young children.