Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the appeal of alcohol to children.

The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing and The UK Code of Broadcast Advertising provide that marketing communications and advertisements for alcoholic drinks should not be targeted at people under 18 years of age and should not imply, condone or encourage immoderate, irresponsible or anti-social drinking. The Codes provide that more than 25% of the audience in adjacent programmes or for the relevant publication should not be under 18 years old. Alcohol advertising must not be likely to appeal ‘strongly’ to young people under 18 years old, reflect or associate with youth culture or show adolescent or juvenile behaviour. No children and no one who is or appears to be under the age of 25 years old may play a significant role in the advertising of alcoholic drinks. Copies of the Codes are attached. Education on alcohol use is a statutory component of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education in England.