Alcohol Advertising Across Spanish and English Television and Radio Networks in New York City.

Abstract

Latinx residents in New York City experience greater disparities in alcohol use behaviors, chronic liver disease mortality, and other health and legal consequences from high-risk alcohol use compared to non-Latinx White residents. As media-based advertising of alcohol can influence health behaviors, this study aimed to take an "upstream" approach by analyzing rates of alcohol advertising across primetime English- and Spanish-language television networks and radio station broadcasting in New York City during September 7-27, 2022. A systematic content analysis of a randomly drawn, two-week composite sample of primetime YouTube television networks and radio stations revealed significantly higher alcohol advertising rates per hour on Spanish- than English-language media (rate difference across television networks = 4.91, 95% CI = 3.96, 5.85, p < 0.05; rate difference across radio stations = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.17, 2.55, p < 0.05). Findings underscore disparities in alcohol advertising across diverse media types, disadvantaging consumers of Spanish-language media. Stronger regulation and enforcement of alcohol marketing laws are needed to curb Latinx health inequities.