New campaign takes a stand against alcohol advertising

The See What Sam Sees campaign launches this week (1 March ) to highlight the vast amount of alcohol marketing young people are exposed to

The See What Sam Sees campaign launches this week (1 March) to highlight the vast amount of alcohol marketing young people are exposed to and find the best photographs of alcohol marketing across Greater Manchester.

A central element to the campaign is a photography competition where young people aged 13-17 are encouraged to take photos of alcohol marketing in Greater Manchester to highlight the issue. Currently more 10-15 year olds view alcohol adverts on TV than adults over the age of 25, with the alcohol industry using sophisticated marketing techniques to promote drinks and appeal to both existing and new drinkers, many of whom are under the legal age to purchase alcohol.

Alcohol advertising has become increasingly prominent and the See What Sam Sees campaign is pushing back to reclaim spaces, sports and social lives from the influences of alcohol marketing. There has been a series of events across Greater Manchester over the last month to spread the word about the campaign and the competition which launches on Tuesday (1 March) and will run until March 14 2016.

See What Sam Sees is part of the Smoke & Mirrors programme run by local social enterprise Tobacco Free Futures.

Andrea Crossfield, spokesperson for the Greater Manchester See What Sam Sees campaign said: “We are running this competition to give young people in Greater Manchester a voice, enabling them to take a stand against the amount of alcohol advertising they see within their community. We recently surveyed Greater Manchester residents, and two thirds of respondents told us that they believe that alcohol advertising appeals to under-18s, despite the fact that they are too young to buy alcohol.

“We know that alcohol adverts are all around us, normalising alcohol in everyday life, for adults as well as children. The competition will give young people the chance to show just how much advertising children consume on a daily basis and make them more aware of how marketing influences them.”

You can follow the competition on social media which is being used to promote the campaign and share examples of alcohol advertising captured by you. Prizes will be awarded for the best photos in each of the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, as well as an overall prize of the best Greater Manchester photo.

Want to get involved?

If you are between 13-17, living, working or in education in Greater Manchester and want to see a reduction in the amount of alcohol advertising you see then take part in the See What Sam Sees photography competition for your chance to win a prize.

The competition is now live and all entries must be made by midnight Friday 14 March 2016. You can submit your image via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email or post.