Alcohol reforms to protect Victorian kids

THE VICTORIAN Government has announced reforms that will protect children from alcohol advertising and strengthen laws around the sale and supply of alcohol.

The Alcohol Policy Coalition (APC) has welcomed the government’s intentions to make reforms to Victoria’s Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 which includes banning alcohol advertising within 150m of schools.

APC spokesperson and Cancer Council Victoria senior legal policy advisor Sarah Jackson strongly supported the reforms and said there was a clear link between exposure to alcohol advertising and alcohol use in young people.

“We know the more adolescents are exposed to alcohol advertising the more likely they are to start drinking at a young age and engage in risky levels of drinking,” Ms Jackson said.

“Alcohol companies know this and have continued to advertise in predatory ways that increase their profits at the expense of the well-being of our children.”

The new reforms will also strengthen existing laws to prevent the sale of alcohol to children with delivery drivers to check identification when delivering alcohol.

“We applaud the Victorian Government for taking this step,” senior social justice advocate Mark Zirnsak said.