60% of Filipinos alarmed by alcohol advertising’s effect on youth

MANILA, Philippines — About 60 percent of Filipinos are concerned about the effects of alcohol advertising on youth, according to a survey conducted by Vital Strategies’ RESET alcohol program.

This survey, presented by Nandita Murukulta of Vital Strategies in a press briefing on Tuesday, showed that Filipinos are highly alarmed about the status of alcoholism and its regulation in the country, particularly for the youth.

“Sixty-five percent of Filipinos agree that alcohol is easy to buy, highlighting the need for stricter regulations on alcohol availability. […] Sixty percent say that exposure to alcohol advertising encourages youth to start alcohol use,” Murukulta said.

Additionally, most Filipino parents believe that their children’s exposure to alcohol advertising can lead to negative behaviors. Murukulta added that 68 percent of Filipino parents and caregivers are extremely worried about the amount of alcohol advertising their child is exposed to, with 65 percent saying that alcohol advertising makes their child think that drinking alcohol is a desirable or glamorous behavior.

Furthermore, she added that 72 percent of Filipino parents say they are concerned about their child’s potential alcohol use in the future and 64 percent are already on guard on the availability of alcohol in social environments.

“This concern reflects the need for protective measures to safeguard young people and their futures in the Philippines,” Murukulta said.

According to Vital Strategies, RESET alcohol brings together national governments, civil society, researchers, and leaders in public health to implement World Health Organization (WHO) best-buy policies: increasing taxation, regulating availability, and restricting the marketing of alcohol in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

READ: Use of alcohol and e-cigarettes among youth ‘alarming’–WHO

Last April, a report by the WHO raised concerns about the “alarming” use of alcohol and e-cigarettes among youth aged 11, 13, and 15 in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada.

The report found that for 15-year-olds, about 57 percent had drunk alcohol at least once. For current use, defined as having drunk at least once in the last 30 days, eight percent of 11-year-old boys were reported to have done so.

WHO said that these findings reveal how available and normalized alcohol is and show that there is a need for better policy measures to protect children and young people from its harms. — Felice Nafarrete, INQUIRER.net intern