[quote]The producers of junk food are to to be banned from advertising during children’s television programmes in an attempt by the Government to reduce obesity in the young.
John Reid, the Health Secretary, has decided to take the “nuclear option” of banning companies from targeting children with advertisements for a range of unhealthy foods, including burgers, crisps, fizzy drinks and sweets.
…etc etc…
One option for defining junk food is for the Food Standards Agency to draw up lists based on sugar, salt and fat content. Items breaching prescribed limits - such as burgers, crisps, fizzy drinks and even some breakfast cereals - would be banned from advertising slots during children’s programmes. [/quote]
Pretty radical. The proposed ban is just for prime time kids TV, but even so, I wonder if it will be extended down the road.
Could the US or Australia, who have near-epidemic rates of obesity, consider something similar, or must market forces be obeyed at all costs?
I can’t imagine kids TV without all those junk food ads. I grew up with jingles and slogans for snacks and sweets ringing in my ears - they’re still ringing even now! “Tell 'em about the honey Mummy!”
I think it’s a great start, but I am certain the junk food manufacturers will just find other ways to get their message through to kids.
What’s wrong with the parents being responsible for their own kids without the government having to raise my taxes to help defray the cost of raising irresponsible parents’ kids?
LMAO! How much does it cost to ban advertising of junk food at kids’ peak-viewing times? Peanuts!
The incidence of obesity among kids in the UK is rising at an alarming rate. The government is faced with massive health care costs down the road thanks to parents raising fat blobs for children. Irresponsible parents are clearly in need of help.
The parents are probably at work, everyone has to earn their way.
Even if they were being monitored while watching TV, you can’t stop them watching junk food ads, unless you make them watch the BBC. And you can’t let them play outside because of the paedophiles behind every lamppost.
Or would someone else care to explain how to keep children away from junk food ads ?
well spack…“LMAO! How much does it cost to ban advertising of junk food at kids’ peak-viewing times? Peanuts!”
Sure for this one thing but does it stop here…no, I don’t think so. Money is not the issue here, responsiblity is.
“The incidence of obesity among kids in the UK is rising at an alarming rate. The government is faced with massive health care costs down the road thanks to parents raising fat blobs for children. Irresponsible parents are clearly in need of help.” Irresponsible parents should not have kids to begin with but obviously this isn’t the case. Now you mention the ‘incidence fo obesity among kids’…could you please tell me whose fault is this??? Where does a child (at least up to a certain age) obtain food? Shouldn’t the government just step in, take these kids and house them and ensure they are fed the proper foods? That’s the only way the government can help this kids.
BFM…"1. The parents are probably at work, everyone has to earn their way.
2. Even if they were being monitored while watching TV, you can’t stop them watching junk food ads, unless you make them watch the BBC. And you can’t let them play outside because of the paedophiles behind every lamppost.
First, personally, I believe if you can’t afford children you shouldn’t have them…period. I think that takes care of number 1.
For number 2 and 3 I ask yet again…who is buying the food in the household? who is the adult? who is responsible for whom? If your child decides he wants chocolate for every meal do you provide it?
I don’t know about anyone’s childhood but my own; however, in our family you ate what was set out on the table. Short of a verifiable allegic reaction no one was allowed to become a picky eater. Of course with the more stubborn siblings the food got a little cold before they finally decided they would rather eat what was there instead of going to bed hungry. In the end, no one died, I am pleased to report.
As for this question…“Or would someone else care to explain how to keep children away from junk food ads ?” I would simply say it is irrelevant what ads your child sees as long as you exercise your parential authority (and responsiblity) instead of expecting the rest of society to do the job for you.
Van, if you use the [quote ] text goes here [/quote ] tags it makes posts easier to read when you want to quote several chunks of text from previous posts.
[quote=“Vannyel”]As for this question…“Or would someone else care to explain how to keep children away from junk food ads ?” I would simply say it is irrelevant what ads your child sees as long as you exercise your parential authority (and responsiblity) instead of expecting the rest of society to do the job for you.[/quote]
It’s ludicrous to suggest that a ban on advertising means that parents expect the rest of society to raise their kids for them.
Also, I think you underestimate the power of advertising. It is NOT irrelevant what ads a child sees. Even with the best parenting skills in the world, kids are still going to be exposed to junk food ads if they watch any amount of kids TV.
As a parent myself I know that in the battle of messages - parents say, “Eat your greens”, ads say, “Eat M&Ms” - the odds are stacked against the parents! Believe me; it’s an uphill battle. A partial ban would help even those odds.
Banning advertising simply makes the parents’ job of teaching kids good eating habits a little easier. It doesn’t replace parental responsibility. It’s not a substitution or an all-in-one remedy. A ban merely helps.
Peanuts!