Junk food adverts banned in Queensland

The Queensland’s state government has imposed a ban on junk food advertising in bid to curb obesity.

The ban will include more than 2,000 outdoor advertising spaces, including bus stops, train stations and roadside billboards and will include all leased advertising spaces owned by the state government. The ban will not apply to Stadiums Queensland venues due to contract complexities.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said, “Junk food advertisers target kids, we know that, and obesity in childhood is a leading indicator of obesity in adulthood.

“This is about doing what we can to protect our kids from the kind of marketing that leads them to make unhealthy choices.”

“Obesity is a real challenge for our community, for our hospitals and the health services, but also for the individuals who are suffering – this is really just a decision about the Government leading by example and saying that we will use our spaces to advertise healthier options,” said Miles.

The Government has not released a figure to estimate the loss of revenue from the ban, however, Miles admits it will be “millions of dollars”. The government hopes the ad space will be filled by healthier food advertising.

The ban will be phased out over time and will take years to reach full effect.

source: http://www.thedrum.com