MP puts forward bill on alcohol advertising

A Liberal Democrat MP has laid down a Bill in the House of Commons calling for a ban on pre-watershed advertising of alcohol.

Sandra Gidley MP for Romsey has said there needs to be much greater debate in Parliament in order to solve Britain's problems with under-age drinking but admits her Bill is unlikely to become law.

Instead she says she is trying to put a spotlight on the issue.

"With the bill I am simply trying to create some debate. People here just don't seem to want to talk about it," she said.

Mrs Gidley told the Publican that this debate was not like smoking: "All the evidence shows that alcohol in moderation is good for you. But what I am trying to do here is tackle under-age drinking. Alcohol advertising is quirky and clever and glamorises alcohol to young people, who are exposed to these adverts at a very young age."

She also said that pubs in her constituency were affected by the levels of under-age drinking. "I know that many people in my constituency are put off from going to their local pub because there are concerned things will get out of hand."

Mrs Gidley also called for greater information on alcohol in pubs. "I like a glass of wine in my local pub but it is amazing to see how high the levels of alcohol have become - and yet there is very little unit information available."

The second reading of the bill will take place in October and Mrs Gidley is under no illusions about its chances of success. "It has no chance of becoming law," she said. "But I wanted to provoke people into debating it. The figures showing the drain alcohol-related accidents and incidents are creating in the NHS and our police services are scary."