As leaked government plans suggest an alcohol ad ban is on the cards, a YouGov poll suggests the majority support further restrictions.
Almost two-thirds (65%) of Brits either strongly support or somewhat support a ban on brands advertising alcohol on TV before the 9pm watershed, according to a poll by YouGov. Just 20% oppose the idea.
The poll comes after leaked documents from the Department of Health and Social Care, seen by Sky News, outline a potential plan to completely ban alcohol advertising within the UK.
The full NHS 10-year Health Plan, in which the alcohol ad ban is expected to be included, is due to be shared by health secretary Wes Streeting next week.
Almost two-thirds (65%) of Brits either strongly support or somewhat support a ban on brands advertising alcohol on TV before the 9pm watershed, according to a poll by YouGov. Just 20% oppose the idea.
The poll comes after leaked documents from the Department of Health and Social Care, seen by Sky News, outline a potential plan to completely ban alcohol advertising within the UK.
The full NHS 10-year Health Plan, in which the alcohol ad ban is expected to be included, is due to be shared by health secretary Wes Streeting next week.
Current rules, which were introduced in October 2005, state that ads for alcohol mustn’t target under-18s or portray people drinking in an “adolescent or juvenile” way, and models used in ads must look older than 25.
Brands must also not encourage people to adopt unwise drinking habits, such as binge drinking, or suggest that drinking alcohol can help people overcome problems.
When Brits were asked how they feel about a total ban on advertising alcohol online, including social media, half (52%) strongly or somewhat support the move, while around a third (32%) either strongly or somewhat oppose it.
Split by gender, women are more likely to support the ban (57%) compared with 47% of men, of a sample size of 5,160 adults in Great Britain.
The potential alcohol ad ban comes as many brands are preparing for the looming high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) ad ban, which will come into force in 2026 after multiple delays.
Rules banning “less healthy” food and drink brands from advertising online and on TV before the watershed were due to come into force on 1 October 2025. The advertising rules had already been pushed back from 2023, and then 2024, following lobbying from industry figures.
However, a voluntary agreement between advertisers and the government means the rules will still effectively come into play from October.
