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Bristol City Council bans ads on junk food, gambling and payday loans
New rules on food advertising have been passed by Bristol City Council.
The new policies will restrict the advertisement of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and also bans the advertisement of alcohol.
The ban means that implicit or explicit promotion of HFSS foods or alcohol will no longer be allowed on Bristol City Council-owned advertising sites, such as bus shelters.
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The disallowed HFSS foods are defined by the Department of Health and Social Care’s nutrient profiling model. However, companies will be allowed to any company to substitute advertising their unhealthy products with healthier ones, avoiding any outright bans on specific brands.
“We take the health of our residents seriously and have been working with our local public health experts for some time to find ways to support the health of our citizens,” says deputy mayor Asher Craig.
“One of the ways we intend to do this is to restrict the most harmful types of advertising from city centre banners, digital screens and bus stop adverts.
“By putting people’s health first, we have made Bristol’s policy one of the strongest in the country, leading by example and showing willingness to take a potential hit on our income in order to support people’s health and wellbeing.”
The restrictions will affect bus stop advertisements. Photo: Bristol24/7
The new policy also restricts advertising of other common public health harms, including gambling and payday loans.
The restrictions are part of the council’s ‘Health in all Policies’ commitment and conditions will be put in place immediately.
“We’re delighted to see Bristol join the movement of councils prioritising their communities’ health ahead of corporate interests,” says Fran Bernhardt, children’s food campaign coordinator at Sustain.
“Junk food advertising puts unhealthy and unsustainable products in the spotlight which is bad news for us. Bristol’s new healthier food advertising policy sets the stage for healthier food, helping Bristolians to lead more healthy lives.”
Main photo: Ellie Pipe
Read more: Bristol City Council considers ban on adverts for junk food, polluting cars and gambling
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