18 Jun 2009

Bill to screen TV liquor ads later defeated

1:36 pm on 18 June 2009

A bill to screen advertising of liquor on television later at night has been defeated in Parliament.

The Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill was dumped by a close margin of 62 to 58 votes.

The bill would have seen the earliest time for screening liquor advertising on television moved from 8.30pm to 10pm.

It would also have moved control of the advertising from the Advertising Standards Authority to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The bill's sponsor, Labour MP Brendon Burns, says it had support from most parties except National, who made it clear they would vote to block it.

The Association of New Zealand Advertisers says the proposed bill would have penalised liquor advertising on television while not affecting other forms of advertising.

It says the current system of television advertising works well.