Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has called for a ban on alcohol advertising in the European Union.
Speaking during Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm (AWARH), Ms Anderson said the European Union was the highest drinking region in the world resulting in huge level of harm.
She added{ “Twelve per cent of children across the European Union live in families adversely affected by alcohol.
“As well as the cost to health, alcohol-related harm also costs the economy more than €155 billion every year, of which €74 billion is a result of productivity losses.
“Alcohol is linked to more than 60 diseases including cancer, liver and digestive diseases, alcohol dependency and depression.”
Ms Anderson has asked the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, to commit to an advertising ban during his time in office.
She added: “He agreed on the need for such a ban but acknowledged if will be a challenge.”
Ms Anderson concluded: “I will continue to lobby for all measures to protect people from alcohol-related harm.”
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