Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych insists on there being improvements made to Ukrainian legislation in terms of introducing a complete ban on the advertising of alcohol, tobacco, beer and soft drinks, including hidden advertising, the president's representative for children's rights, Yuriy Pavlenko, said at a press briefing on Monday, Apr. 9.
He said that the president is concerned about the situation with the use by children of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
"We have to move to a complete ban on the advertizing, including hidden advertizing, of alcohol, tobacco, beer and low-alcohol drinks," he said.
Pavlenko said that it was necessary to ban hidden advertising, when the producers of alcoholic or tobacco products sponsor certain events.
In this connection, Pavlenko said that Yanukovych is insisting on the immediate approval of a legal document that could be used to control the sale of alcoholic and tobacco products to children. In addition, he said that the president is insisting on the drafting of a document that would restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages, beer and tobacco products for children, as well as on a rise in fines and the withdrawal of licenses for the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors.
Pavlenko also said that in this regard, the Ministry of Social Policy should determine the actual number of families with the unfavorable situation, in terms of the use by parents of drugs or alcohol, and strengthen the social protection of children in such families.
