A new report by the World Health Organization has called on countries to address the regulation gap that is in alcohol marketing.

According to WHO young people are often targeted in these digital adverts even though the product is detrimental to their health.

Statistics by the WHO show that at least 3 million people die each year as a result of harmful use of alcohol, with 13.5% of all deaths among those who are 20–39 years of age being alcohol-related.

Commenting on the report WHO director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated that,” Alcohol robs young people of their lives and their potential, despite the clear risks to health, controls of marketing of alcohol are much weaker than for other psychoactive products”.

He said; “Better, well enforced and more consistent regulation of alcohol marketing would both save and improve young lives across the world.”

In his remarks, WHO’s Dag Rekve of the Alcohol, Drugs and addictive behaviours unit said “The rising importance of digital media means that alcohol marketing has become increasingly cross-border”.

“Additionally, this makes it more difficult for countries that are regulating alcohol marketing to effectively control it in their jurisdictions.”

He has since called for more collaboration between countries in this area.