A Federal Government inquiry has recommended the Australian Government take action on alcohol marketing.
The Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability, in its report on the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs, has recommended that the Australian Government establish a new mandatory alcohol advertising and marketing regulatory framework.
The framework would aim to: reduce exposure to children and those at greatest risk; prohibit the collection and use of personal information for alcohol marketing purposes unless a person has opted in; harmonise rules across content platforms including television and online; and introduce appropriate monitoring and penalties for non-compliance.
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education CEO Ayla Chorley questioned the guidelines for alcohol marketing.
“The way alcohol is marketed and sold should be determined by governments, not the industry that profits from a harmful and addictive product. These recommendations put the health and safety of Australians at the centre of decision-making, with stronger protections for children, greater safeguards around personal data, and meaningful accountability for non-compliance,” Chorley said.
“We know from research evidence and the accounts of people who have experienced harm, that this will go a long way to make a difference in the community.”
The recommendations follow the minister for health and ageing, Hon Mark Butler, re-referring the inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability on 28 August 2025.
The Committee accepted the Minister’s request to undertake a health-focused review of alcohol and other drugs policy, treatment services, community programs, and workforce, to determine whether the current settings appropriately support the prevention, reduction and recovery of alcohol and other drugs-related health harms on individuals, families and communities.
Yesterday, the Committee also recommended the Australian Government remove its representative from the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Scheme Management Committee to protect the independence of any new framework under consideration. This was supported by Cancer Council Australia.
Cancer Council Australia has welcomed the proposed recommendations from a federal parliamentary committee calling for stricter regulation of alcohol advertising and marketing in Australia.
Cancer Council Australia said these recommendations reflect long-standing concerns about the inadequacy of Australia’s current approach to alcohol advertising regulations, which relies primarily on voluntary rules set by the alcohol industry itself.
Chair of Cancer Council’s nutrition, alcohol and physical activity committee Clare Hughes said tighter regulation is long overdue.
“The Committee’s recommendations are an important step toward a framework that puts the health of Australians first.
“Alcohol is a known cause of at least seven types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast, stomach, liver and bowel. Reducing alcohol use reduces cancer risk, and that starts with ensuring Australians are not being targeted by marketing designed to encourage them to drink more.
“There is no safe level of alcohol use when it comes to cancer. Australians deserve to be able to make informed decisions about alcohol products, free from advertising that promotes consumption without acknowledging the risks.”
Cancer Council Australia has called on the Australian Government to act on the Committee’s recommendations and establish a mandatory framework that prioritises public health over industry interests.
Outside of the recommendations Cancer Council Australia has said it would like to see mandatory health warning labels introduced for alcohol products to help ensure people are aware of the risks of drinking alcohol, including the increased risk of at least seven types of cancer.
