Ads for alcohol, tobacco or therapeutic goods

Broadcasters can only show ads for therapeutic goods that meet Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules. 

We investigate complaints about the broadcast of tobacco and e-cigarette advertisements. These are prohibited by licence conditions in Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act. 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing may take separate action against tobacco or e-cigarette ads under the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023.

Broadcasters are encouraged to review the ACMA’s compliance update on tobacco advertisements.

There are rules about:

• alcohol ads on TV and radio
• what they can contain
• when they can be shown. 

Alcohol ads cannot:

• target children
• be irresponsible in targeting adults.

 The alcohol advertising rules are in the:

• Australian Content and Children’s Television Standards 2020
• Commercial TV code of practice
• Subscription TV code of practice
• SBS code of practice
• ABAC Responsible Alcohol Marketing Code.

Alcohol ads on TV

As a TV broadcaster, you can show alcohol ads on commercial TV and SBS TV between:

• 12 pm and 3 pm on school days
• 8:30 pm and 5 am on any day.

You can show alcohol ads during sports programs on public holidays and weekends starting from 6 pm Friday.

Alcohol ads cannot be broadcast:

• on commercial TV in children's (C) or preschool (P) classified programs at any time
• in the breaks immediately before or after C or P classified programs
• on a dedicated subscription children's channel.

Alcohol ads on radio

There are no rules about when alcohol ads can be on radio.