ADPH welcomes House of Lords report
Earlier today, the House of Lords Liaison Committee published its report into gambling. The report – Gambling Harm—Time for Action: Follow-up report – follows up on the July 2020 report of the Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry (also known as the ‘Gambling Industry Committee’), which recommended a public health approach to tackling gambling-related harms.
It argues that a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising – one of ADPH’s key policy recommendations – represents the most effective policy option to advance meaningfully the Government’s aim of reducing gambling harms and represents a vital part of a public health approach.
Peter Roderick, ADPH spokesperson for the commercial determinants of health, who has welcomed the report, explains:
“We know that when any product is advertised, it increases how much that product is used. When it comes to some products – like gambling – the millions of dollars spent on advertising not only increase sales but also increases the number of people experiencing harms as a result of using those products.
“We have seen with tobacco – another harmful product – that banning advertising has a direct link to reducing the number of people experiencing tobacco-related illnesses. While gambling is not linked to cancer, lung or heart disease, it is linked to a wide range of other harms including financial difficulties, family breakdown, domestic violence and suicide. These, often severe, consequences don’t just impact individuals who gamble, but also friends and family, and the wider community.
“Today’s report is an excellent summary of the issues, and echoes the concerns felt by Directors of Public Health across the UK that gambling is indeed a public health issue and, as such, requires a public health approach to tackling the harms it causes.
“Given that there are 1.4 million people now experiencing these harms, there is no time to waste and we urge the Government to take heed of the reports recommendation to introduce a ban on gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship as a matter of priority.”