The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) has created a free comprehensive online training course and video to help alcohol marketers ensure their work complies with the Code.
ABAC has released its latest quarterly report, which shows the code is continuing to see high levels of activity across complaints, determinations and pre-vetting requests.
ABAC Chair Harry Jenkins AO said: “2020 set a new record for determination levels, and this trend has continued into the first quarter of 2021.
“Digital marketing continues to be the largest source of complaints considered by the Panel and the Code standards most commonly breached this quarter include images of alcohol use in conjunction with swimming pools and suggestions that alcohol has some sort of therapeutic benefit.”
ABAC said that industry education and training continues to be one of its highest priorities, which is why it has created the free online course, which is available through the ABAC website.
Jenkins said: “There has been an initial strong uptake of the course by both signatories and non-signatories and very positive feedback has been received on how interesting and helpful the course is in reinforcing alcohol marketers’ understanding of the Code and its application.
“ABAC encourages all alcohol marketers and their agencies to undertake the course.”
The course takes just over an hour to complete and ABAC said committing to the course will significantly assist marketers avoid Code breaches and demonstrate their commitment to responsible alcohol marketing.
In addition to the course the ABAC pre-vetting service is another valuable tool for alcohol marketers and the latest quarterly report shows that ABAC’s pre-vetting service continues to perform strongly with higher pre-vetting requests received when compared with the same quarter last year.
Jenkins added: “The pre-vetting service complements ABAC’s training initiatives and resources and we encourage all alcohol producers, distributors and retailers to utilise this valuable service.”
More information about the Code and pre-vetting is available at: www.abac.org.au