Reviewing all TV advertisements for alcoholic beverages by a Preliminary Inspection Committee

In Finland, a Preliminary Inspection Committee reviews all TV advertisements for alcoholic beverages by members of the Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry before their public broadcast, either in the scripting stage or upon their completion. Advertisements have to comply not only with legislation and official guidelines, but also with the brewing sector’s self-regulatory guidelines. The Committee, an independent group whose members have expertise in a range of fields, such as marketing, advertising and law, inspects scripts or completed advertisements for alcoholic beverages. Committee started to work in 2011. Outdoor advertisements also became subject to inspection in October 2012 but the legislation ended outdoor advertisement in 2015. The decisions of the Preliminary Inspection Committee are binding, and violations are subject to sanctions.