The British authorities plan to ban advertisements for unhealthy foods and drinks on the internet and television during the day as part of their efforts to combat childhood obesity.
The government announced yesterday that this measure, which is part of the Labour Party’s program following Keir Starmer’s rise to power in July, will take effect on October 1, 2025.
This announcement follows a statement from the Prime Minister, who emphasized the need to reform the public health system currently facing a severe crisis, with a greater focus on prevention.
Andrew Gwynne, the Deputy Minister for Public Health, stated in a written communication to Parliament that more than one in five children in England is “overweight or obese before starting primary school,” with this figure rising to more than one in three by the end of primary education.
He noted that this initiative “will help protect children from advertisements for unhealthy foods and drinks, as data shows that such ads influence their dietary preferences from a very young age.”
The government plans to impose a complete ban on advertisements for highly fatty, sugary, and salty foods before 9 PM on television and online.
The previous Conservative government led by Boris Johnson initiated these measures, but the implementation of restrictions on fast-food advertisements was postponed to give manufacturers in this sector more time to adapt.
The Labour government intends to take further actions aimed at enhancing health prevention, including prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to those under 16.
