“You Haven’t Been Drinking Alone” Warns New Anti Parental Drinking Campaign

Icon Agency has launched a new campaign for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, calling upon mums and dads across Australia to leave behind potentially harmful drinking behaviours picked up during the COVID-19 lockdown.

As the restrictions begin to ease, You Haven’t Been Drinking Alone shines a spotlight on how parents’ alcohol consumption has spiked in recent months as they balance changes to their work life, increasing uncertainty and the challenges of home-schooling.

A poll commissioned by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation found that more than one in four (29 per cent) parents increased their alcohol intake during lockdown, with almost one in six (14 per cent) saying they’ve been drinking every day.

Central to the You Haven’t Been Drinking Alone is the premise that while parents may have been drinking in isolation, they haven’t been drinking alone. Since the start of lockdown, some children have seen their parents’ occasional alcoholic drink turn into a daily ritual. Others have played in the background of their parents Zoom calls which can act as virtual pub tables.

“While video catch ups have played an important role in addressing social isolation, a by-product has been bringing the pub into many Australian homes, with kids listening and watching in the background,” said Alcohol and Drug Foundation CEO Dr Erin Lalor AM.

There is a compelling body of evidence highlighting how parental attitudes towards alcohol plays one of the strongest influences on children’s future relationship with alcohol.

This has been brought to life in a confronting campaign video, which sees a group of young friends on a group Zoom call mimicking adult phrases and behaviours witnessed during parents boozy video catch ups. Alcohol dominates the kids’ conversation, with one claiming he’s been “sucking the guts out of a few cold ones”, and another sharing “oh yeah, got myself a slab”.

“Some parents may not realise that their own behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol plays one of the most influential roles in their children’s future behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol,” Dr Lalor said.

“This campaign reinforces the message that parents are one of the most important role models in their children’s lives and provides information to help parents learn how they can role model lower-risk behaviours around alcohol to their children, including encouraging parents to show their kids they don’t always need alcohol to relax, have fun, as a reward or in every social situation,” Dr Lalor added.

You Haven’t Been Drinking Alone is the first collaboration between Icon Agency and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. According to Icon Agency Creative Director, Ed Bechervaise, the reflective new campaign provides an insight into the behaviour of some Australian parents during lockdown.

“The campaign was designed to highlight to parents that children watch and soak in their behaviour. It encourages parents to think about how their drinking may have changed during lockdown, how it may be impacting their health, and also how it may be inadvertently influencing their children’s behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol.”

To date, the campaign has had an impressive debut, securing a reach of almost 150 million across news and broadcast media, including ABC News Breakfast and news.com.au syndication. In its first four days in market, the campaign video has hit 750,000 views across Youtube, Facebook and Instagram.

Speaking on the campaign launch, Icon Agency Group account director Hazel Tiernan said: “Icon Agency has worked closely with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to deliver a campaign that encourages parents to reflect on their drinking habits. The video is confronting without finger pointing. It sets up the issue and empowers the viewer to make an informed choice. The campaign messages have been amplified across multiple channels to ensure we reach, engage and influence as many Australian parents as possible with this important behaviour change campaign”.

Client – Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Head of Marketing and Communications: Cinzia Marrocco

Communications Manager: Kelly Ward

Media Manager: Carmel Green 

Agency – Icon Agency
Agency Creative Director: Ed Bechervaise

Creative team: Brendon Guthrie & Aaron Tyler

Group Account Director: Hazel Tiernan

Planning Director: Shayne Hare 

Account Director: Joanna Raine

Account Coordinator: Alexandra Tanner

Production Partner: RIOT Content

Video Director: Matt Weston

Video Producer: Dave Christison 

Brand Strategists:

The Lab – Paul Labagnara & Katie Lucas

Head of PR: Matt Thomas

Associate Account Director: Sophia Pellatt

Account Manager: Rebecca Peck

Account Executive: Robyn Rigoli

Account Coordinator: Annie McBrearty

Data and Reporting Analyst: Tammy Trinh