asked the Minister for Health if he will make representations to the various interests concerned to have alcohol advertisements phased out of the communication media.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alcohol Advertisements.
6.
My policy has been consistently directed towards restraint and responsibility in the advertising of alcoholic liquor rather than towards its cessation or prohibition. My particular interest and concern has been, and continues to be, that advertising of alcohol beverages should not be directed towards young persons. As Deputies may recall from answers to previous Parliamentary Questions, my concern in this respect was conveyed to the Institute of Advertising Practitioners of Ireland. Subsequently in June, 1971, the Institute adopted for the first time a voluntary code formalising advertising practices here in regard to alcoholic beverages and defining practices considered undesirable.
I have had certain suggestions about improvements in the code conveyed to the Institute and officers of my Department have discussed the matter with their representatives. A revised code is in operation and it may be taken that I shall continue to keep the matter actively under review. I must, however, make it clear that the Institute responded in a reasonable and responsible manner to the representations. I would again suggest that it would be fair to wait and see how the revised code will work out before making any judgment on it.