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A growing body of evidence showing the harm that alcohol is doing to young people has prompted the government to review its advertising regulations.
The review will be carried out by a group including members of the Alcohol Advisory Council, government ministries and the Advertising Standards Authority.
Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell says the review is important, because it is clear alcohol advertising has a significant impact on people's attitudes towards drinking.
He says the Drug Foundation would like alcohol advertising to be taken off television and radio entirely.
Bell says he is also happy the review will examine youth-oriented media, as well as television and radio advertising. And he says the review should explore alternative funding options for sports clubs, which often rely heavily on financial support from alcohol companies.
He says that includes text messages, the internet and sports sponsorships, which reach a lot of young people via sports clubs and televised matches.
Bell was critical, however, of the lack of independent health agencies involved in the process.
Bell says while broadcasters and advertisers are included along with government agencies, independent public health groups have been left out.
But one of the country's largest alcohol companies, Lion Nathan, which says alcohol advertising regulations are already robust and the review is unnecessary.
Lion Nathan's director of corporate affairs Liz Read says there is no need to change the current system, which she says is already very strict and in line with community sentiment. She says Lion Nathan is looking forward to putting its case to the review panel.
Read says Lion Nathan is looking forward to putting its case to the review panel.
