The Methodist Church on the Isle of Man is calling for a ban on the advertising of alcohol on the Isle of Man and for the introduction of minimum price levels on the sale of alcohol.

The Synod of the Methodist Church has agreed a resolution calling upon the Manx government to take a stand against the advertising of alcohol on the Island and to introduce minimum price levels for its sale.

At its Autumn meeting, the Synod was disturbed to hear of the damage that is being caused by alcohol to the lives of children on the Island. 

Figures from the Alcohol Advisory Service indicate that an estimated 1,800 children live with parental substance abuse. 

Last year, 124 children were referred to the Alcohol Advisory Service's '12-21 team' as a result of their own high levels of alcohol consumption. 

In the light of the recent British Medical Association pronouncement seeking a ban on the advertising of alcohol within the UK, the Church feels that the time is right for our own government to take a stand on the issue, recognising the damage that the misuse of alcohol can cause.

The Synod agreed the following resolution unanimously, "While commending the work already achieved by the government’s Strategy Team and Police Alcohol Unit, in view of the BMA report on the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people, the Synod recommends that the Isle of Man Government should place a ban on all alcohol advertising over which it may exercise control, and establish minimum price levels for the sale of alcoholic products."

The Church subsequently wrote to Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK asking that Government acts swiftly to respond to the issue.