Restriction on Alcohol Ad on TV

In some countries where more consideration is given toward social and moral responsibility and the types of message that goes on television, there are various banning on certain commercial advertisement that post perceived risk/threat or foster violent acts that is potentially harmful for children viewers. This includes the advertisement around alcohol products or any other advertisement that could foster violent attitudes, aggressive and violent movies during which hours children are most likely to watch TV.

Commercial advertisements on prominent TV stations in Cambodia are very much driven by the ad around various types of alcohol, energy drinks, beauty whitening products. Some recent advertisements, mobile phone company seems to spread the message of mocking  other company or carries message that seem to discriminate against certain group of people with different sexual orientation; one of the advertisement even shows inappropriate sexual organ of young children. There are some citizen reactive messages/articles about these advertisements. Sometime, one wonders what quality control and check the advertisements products in Cambodia have gone through responsible ministry such as Ministry of Information before it is permitted to be broadcasting on television. On the other hand, it is observed that there are few educational advertisement are available. Some messages are centered mainly around educational ad such as prevention of dengue fever, malaria or the promotion of campaign for parents to send children at school age to enroll for school or to bring children for vaccination. Notably, few messages promote humbleness in driving, respect and gratitude toward parents, helping other people in society such as the elders and less able persons.


In recent news released by Minister of Information, all TV stations are given five months prior notice before the Ministry of Information enforced its restriction banning all kind of alcohol commercial advertisement between 6-8pm. The basis for the restriction is the potential harm the advertisement will cause on children viewers during such hour. This is a positive step that the government is taking to foster the kind of message that children are getting from TV. The Ministry of Information as a responsible ministry should pay more attention and regulate on the content of what get shown in both national and private/commercial television stations in the country as children increasingly spending more time watching TV. As citizen, we have right to get the right information and since television is one among the first point of channel to get information, there should be some extent of regulation banning on advertisement that overly promote the consumption of alcohol, tobacco/cigarette consumption or the use of harmful (skin) health products.

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