The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has now released the Terms of Reference for its review of alcohol advertising on commercial free-to-air television and opened an eight-week public consultation, closing on 30 April 2026.
The review will examine how the current regulatory arrangements are working in practice, including the volume, frequency and placement of alcohol advertising in both sporting and non-sporting programming. It will also consider evidence regarding the relationship between advertising exposure, consumption behaviours and broader social impacts, as well as the economic contribution of alcohol advertising to commercial free-to-air television.
Importantly, the review will not examine the content of alcohol advertisements, nor other advertising restrictions already covered under existing industry codes and standards.
The consultation is intended to build an evidence base that may inform future updates to the Free TV Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice or guide the ACMA in determining whether additional regulatory intervention may be required.
Australian Grape & Wine will work closely with Alcohol Beverages Australia and other industry partners in preparing a submission to the review. The sector’s position remains that the alcohol industry already operates under a world-leading co-regulatory framework, including the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC), which applies across all advertising channels including television, digital, print and outdoor media.
We will continue to keep members informed as the consultation progresses.
