This report analyses findings from a nationally representative survey conducted in February 2026, on public attitudes to alcohol advertising on television in Australia. The survey reveals significant community concern about the nature and extent of alcohol advertising and signals clear community demand for stricter regulation of alcohol advertising.
Notably, 75 per cent of respondents agreed there should be less alcohol advertising on television, with only 8 per cent disagreeing. Further to this, 82 per cent of respondents agreed that alcohol advertising should be restricted during hours typically reserved for child viewership, including during live sports broadcasts, with only 6 per cent disagreeing. The survey also offered respondents the option of providing comments to Australia’s broadcast media regulator (ACMA) about alcohol advertising on television. The responses demonstrate strong concerns in the community about the prevalence, placement and impact of alcohol advertising, particularly in relation to children, integration with sport, and broader social harms. Many expressed the need for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to impose stricter regulatory measures to protect the community.
These sentiments reflect the growing recognition of the negative impact of alcohol advertising and its contribution to harm in the community. The results underscore the urgent need to review and strengthen existing advertising regulations – notably the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice governing alcohol advertising on commercial television – to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the community.
Key Findings
- 75 per cent of survey respondents agreed that there should be less alcohol advertising on television. Only 8 per cent disagreed.
- 82 per cent of survey respondents supported restrictions on alcohol advertising during children’s viewing hours, including during live sports broadcasts.
- In their comments, respondents highlighted the normalisation of alcohol use through alcohol advertising and the negative impacts this has on the community. Respondents expressed the need for the ACMA to impose more robust regulatory measures to protect people from alcohol advertising.
