Beer, liquor ads to be banned on buses, subways

A bus is decorated with a beer advertisement but starting in September Seoul City will ban alcoholic beverage ads on buses, bus stops and subways. (Photo : The Korea Times)

Seoul City said Friday that it will ban alcoholic beverage advertisements on buses, bus stops and subways in Seoul starting September in an effort to minimize the effect of such media campaigns on the public.

City officials hope the measure will reduce disturbances caused by excessive drinking.

Under the scheme, alcohol ads on bus exteriors and at bus stops set up in the middle of central bus-only lanes will be banned. To plan the measure, the city government held discussions with bus companies and ad agencies on the matter from July, and they agreed to stop advertising starting September when contracts for most of the existing ads expire.

As of July 1, 349 buses carried soju, beer or whiskey ads with additional commercials at 109 bus stops.

On the subway transport system, alcoholic beverage ads have often appeared on subway trains and subway platforms even though subway operators have restricted this under their own rules. But it will also be completely banned next month, officials said.

“We believe alcoholic beverage ads at public places are partly to blame for causing excessive drinking and encouraging juveniles to begin drinking at early ages. We regard the drinking problems as a social issue, not an individual one, and the measures will tackle the social atmosphere encouraging drinking,” a city official said.

The city government will also prevent alcohol ads on outdoor billboards. It recently sent official documents to district offices, urging them not to permit such ads.

Along with the measure, the city will encourage discount stores to change the way they display alcohol to minimize the level of exposure minors have to alcohol advertising.

“We inspected 66 discount stores last week and found alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were being sold on the same shelves at most of the stores. Minors could easily access those products,” the official said.

“We will urge the stores to have a separate section for alcohol. We plan to sign a memorandum of understanding with the outlets,” she said.

The city will also designate specific public places and facilities for minors as drinking-free zones starting 2013, imposing fines for those drinking there. Cram schools, libraries, parks and mountains will be included.

“Lawmakers have proposed a bill banning drinking in public areas such as parks. If the bill is passed, it will take effect in the first half of next year. So we’ll designate the zones next year after collecting public opinion, as well as decide on the fines,” she said.

The city government said it will share these ideas with civic groups working to prevent excessive drinking. It operates five counseling centers for alcohol addiction and plans to set up more. <The Korea Times/Kim Rahn>

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