My name is Joe, and I’m starting this petition because I’ve seen firsthand how damaging alcohol can be—and how hard it is for people to recover when it’s advertised everywhere they look.

My mother is one of the strongest women I know. She beat ice addiction over four years ago, on her own, going cold turkey. But she’s told me that giving up alcohol has been even harder. She works in the trades industry, where going to the pub after work is the norm. Even when she’s trying to stay strong, alcohol is in her face constantly—on TV, on the radio, on billboards, and in cheap promotions at bottle shops. Just the other day, a local store was advertising a six-pack of XXXX for $12—that’s less than a coffee a day.

She now attends AA three times a week, and she’s not alone. Others in her group, including someone who’s been sober from all substances for 20 years, say the same thing—alcohol advertising makes it incredibly hard to stay on track. The marketing is relentless. And it targets people who are struggling.

Australians suffer more harm from alcohol than from ice or cannabis. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, alcohol was responsible for over 4,000 deaths and 144,000 hospitalisations in just one year (2022). Alcohol use also contributed to 1 in every 4 ED presentations on weekends, particularly in younger adults aged 15–34.

We’ve taken big steps to reduce smoking in Australia—cigarette packs are covered in warnings, plain packaging is mandatory, and ads have been banned for years. Yet alcohol still gets a free pass. A small “Drink Responsibly” message is not enough.

What’s at stake?

Our families. Our health system. Our culture.

Alcohol is deeply woven into Aussie identity—“just have a beer with your mate” is something we’ve all heard. But we need to look at the bigger picture: the jobs lost, the relationships broken, the mental health toll, the full emergency rooms on Friday and Saturday nights.

It’s time to say enough.By removing alcohol ads from our media—starting with Queensland TV—we can make it easier for people to get off the drink. We can stop the industry from marketing to those trying their hardest to stay clean. We can start creating a culture that supports recovery, not temptation.

I’m asking for your support. Sign this petition and stand with me, my mum, and every other Queenslander fighting to take their life back.