THE Madani government should restrict corporate social responsibility (CSR)-oriented sponsorship by alcoholic drink companies for they are just a form of indirect advertising targeting the young, including school pupils.
Stating that research has shown that exposure to alcohol advertisements can influence drinking tendencies among teenagers, Terengganu PAS expressed concern that this would eventually increase the risk of premature alcohol consumption and excessive drinking.
“However, alcohol companies cunningly use various marketing channels such as television, internet and social media. In fact, they channel sponsorship to educational institutions in the name of CSR. How can this be justified?” the state level arm of the Islamist party penned in a Facebook post.
As a preventive measure, Terengganu PAS wants the Madani government to impose stricter policies on all forms of alcohol-related publicity.
“We need to limit alcohol advertising in areas frequented by teenagers such as schools, shopping malls and sports complexes,” it suggested.
“This includes stopping sponsorship of programmes involving educational institutions. Does our government dare to take this step or will it remain complacent?”
Justifying its concerns, Terengganu PAS lamented that although alcohol manufacturers often claim that their advertisements comply with industry regulations in that they refrain from targeting the youth age group, studies have proven that such self-regulatory system often fail.
“It does nothing to protect young people from being exposed to alcohol advertising. Is our government so naive or is it deliberately letting this matter drag on?” Terengganu PAS hit out.
“Protect educational institutions and school pupils from the promotion stint by alcohol companies. If the government does not act, we as a society need to speak up. The young generation is our future. Don’t sacrifice them just because the authorities are negligent.” – July 19, 2024
Main image credit: Carlsberg Malaysia
