Ethiopia bans adverts on Alcohol

Ethiopia has banned adverts on alcoholic beverages effective May 29, 2019 to promote healthy living in the country.

According to Ethiopia’s new Health Minister Amir Aman, in a statement to state media outlets on Tuesday “In addition to banning alcoholic drinks commercials, lottery prizes connected with alcoholic drinks and billboards promoting alcoholic drinks are prohibited under the new proclamation,”. He also advised advertisers of alcoholic drinks and broadcast media to prepare for the implementation of the new law.

The ban comes after government forbade smoking near public institutions and introduced a car-free day in major Ethiopian cities one Sunday a month.

In February, the Ethiopian government banned smoking near government institutions, medical facilities and entertainment spots, and banned the sale of alcohol to people under 21 years of age.

Concerning the impact of the ban on consumers, executive director and cofounder Leon Louw of South Africa’s Free Market Foundation said “Evidence from around the world shows that it won’t change anyone’s attitude or the level of consumption. What it might actually do is increase the consumption because if there’s no advertising there’s more money in the hands of the liquor providers.”