France Assos Santé has launched a powerful new campaign under the hashtag #BalanceTaPub, aiming to curb the widespread advertising of alcoholic beverages, particularly around sensitive areas such as schools and hospitals. The campaign, supported by organizations like La Ligue contre le cancer and the Fédération Entraid’Addict, highlights the alarming presence of alcohol advertisements in public spaces, including bus stops and sports arenas, and draws attention to the normalization of alcohol consumption among the youth. In Limoges, students have reported seeing alcohol ads near their schools, reinforcing concerns about the impact of such advertisements on underage drinking habits.

The campaign’s focus is particularly pressing in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where, according to a 2022 survey by the Observatoire français des drogues et des conduites addictives, 70.8% of 17-year-olds had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days—well above the national average of 58.6%. Even more concerning is the prevalence of binge drinking in the region, with 18.3% of youths engaging in this risky behavior at least three times a month. France Assos Santé argues that these advertising practices, coupled with the weakening of the Evin law, which originally aimed to regulate alcohol advertising, are directly contributing to the normalization and encouragement of excessive alcohol consumption among minors.

In response, the campaign is calling for stricter regulations to protect young people, including banning alcohol advertisements within 200 meters of schools, introducing a minimum unit price for alcoholic beverages, and rolling out large-scale prevention campaigns. France Assos Santé also advocates for legal measures to better regulate or ban alcohol advertising by social media influencers, recognizing the growing influence of digital platforms on young audiences. Through #BalanceTaPub, the organization seeks to hold lawmakers accountable and push for policies that prioritize public health over commercial interests.

Find more from France Assos Santé (France, October 2024)