Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) is the national independent advocate for reducing alcohol harm. A central part of our work is ensuring that the protection of children is at the core of alcohol policy. AAI has undertaken significant recent research on alcohol marketing [1][2] and welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation.

This is an area that requires sharp focus from Coimisiún na Meán. Comprehensive national and international research has found that exposure to alcohol marketing, including advertising, sponsorship, and other forms of promotion, is associated with an increased likelihood that children and adolescents will start to drink, and will drink more if they already drink.[3] It is of particular concern that there has been a significant rise in youth drinking over the past decade, with Healthy Ireland surveys showing that 66% of 15-24 year olds were drinking in 2016 but that this had surged to 78% in 2025.[4] In this context, it is essential that drivers of alcohol consumption, including marketing to children, are addressed. This submission addresses provisions carried over from the General Commercial Communications Code (Radio and Television Broadcasters) and the Children’s Commercial Communications Code. The Draft Code and Rules remain substantially similar to the existing Codes in relation to alcohol advertising. Those Codes were last revised following the Broadcasting Codes and Rules Stage 2 Consultation in 2024, and the issues AAI raised in its submission to that consultation remain relevant....