Bars pull young punters online

Alcohol companies are not allowed to market to underage people but social media ads are easily accessible to anyone of any age. Photo / Thinkstock

Bars are increasingly turning to social media to attract young punters, including with Facebook notifications when they're near a pub, new research shows.

Professor Antonia Lyons, of Massey University's School of Psychology, said it was becoming commonplace for bars to upload images of punters to Facebook.

"If a person 'likes' the page, they'll be notified about what events are coming up, what promotions they have. Bars can send targeted messages to people who are within 200m or 500m."

Alcohol companies are not allowed to market to underage people but Lyons said on Facebook "you can have a 13-year-old who receives all the information their cousins or their friends who are over 18 are posting".

The Ministry of Health said the Advertising Standards Authority had an alcohol advertising code that considered social media. Guidelines included not emphasising a product's strength, unless it is low-alcohol, or promoting irresponsible or immoderate drinking.

The Government is considering a report by the Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship — but social media looks likely to fall through the cracks.

Luke Dallow, who runs the Chapel Bar & Bistro, United Kitchen and Bar 151 said parents needed to take responsibility for young people's social media use.

"It comes down to how they're educated at home," he said.