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The Daily PollLONDON’S MAYOR SADIQ Khan is set to ban junk food ads on tubes and buses in the English capital.
The Guardian reported yesterday that the move is part of an effort to curb the city’s role in the UK’s child obesity epidemic.
The ban will affect ads that promote “foods and drinks that are high in salt, fat and sugar”, the paper reports.
But should such a ban be brought in here? A year ago, it was reported that Ireland is on course to become the most obese nation in Europe.
The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) shows that around one in five children are overweight or obese, more girls than boys are overweight and children attending DEIS schools are far more likely to be overweight or obese.
However, while some may believe ads play a role in this, others may believe that a ban on ads might not have an effect.
What do you think: Should junk food ads be banned on Irish public transport?
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If you don’t want junk food don’t have any. Are people turning into zombies when the see an ad for fast food and go to their nearest one?
@Shane Fleming: Mmmmm…fast food.
@Shane Fleming: Some people regard McDonalds as junk food, so be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. McDonalds are a major employer in this country.
@Shane Fleming: I wouldn’t underestimate the power of targeted advertisement. It does influence people in a negative way and it makes sense to give the ones trying to abstain from junk food all the support to succeed (there is an element of addiction to processed food).
@Shane Fleming: it happens to me when I see an ad for Guinness.
@Chris Kirk: They’re also a major contributor to the obesity problem in Ireland and around the globe. Hence the deliberations on banning advertising in certain areas – especially where children have access to it. Do you understand now?
@Shane Fleming:
“Fake Food” .. not .. “Fast Food” is the problem.
Artificial Trans Fats = “Fake Food” invented in 1902 …. used to prolong shelf life of processed food but shortens your’s!
Denmark banned Trans Fats in 2006
Switzerland in 2009
US from this year on 2018 … Obama Law.
Look at Europe Obesity and Diabetes T2 stats … no brainer.
Not banned in EU yet! .. ask why?
Completely reverse your Diabetes T2 by avoiding Trans Fats ..
Only buy food in the supermarket aisle which has NO ADs … fruit and veg and meat.
Eat good healthy fats like walnuts, avocado, fish, etc ….
Have people not got any will power these days if you dont want it dont buy it move on !!!!
@Martin Ryan: it seems they don’t. There are probably no fat people who don’t want to be thin. However if you look around and cafe or pub you will see them eating and drinking things they know they shouldn’t. I’d be happy to change the environment a bit to help them lose the lard. I hate the way everything is so consumption focussed and people act like collectively stuffing their faces is a treat. It’s not even enjoyable to eat when you’re not hungry, they all have over eating disorders.
@SC: It is maybe not enjoyable for you and enjoyable for others.
@SC: eh i dunno where you get that BS from – all fat people want to be thin – really ? IN your head maybe trust me theres plenty of happy contented people who are smart and experienced in life enough to know that so much of that ‘wanting to be thin’ stuff is nonsense – as if thin people are somehow better off -happier -less problems in life ??? Nonsense , complete nonsense – don’t be falling for all that fat shaming crap and live a little ffs
First they came for the cigarettes, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Smoker
Then they came for the Sugar, and I did not speak out—
Because I did not like sherbert
Then they came for the junk food , and I did not speak out—
@Bobby Byrne: The Hand-Cut Chips Tale
Are we incapable of making our own decisions now. Jesus Christ. We must stop advertising!!! What a load of …
@John kane: what about betting companies and their advertising? Shouldn’t that be banned? The biggest group of gamblers is adolescent males and that’s only going to lead to an epidemic later.. so yes, advertising has a role to play.. “Oh isn’t paddy power very funny, he gets me, he’s like one of the lads” no, It’s a corporation that wants your money.. so yes, advertising plays a key role..
@Sean Baylon: you’re gone way off on a tangent. That wasn’t my point at all
@John kane: really
The sad fact is that its lazy eating habits. Were you can cook something nutritious and tasty in half the time.
Everything in moderation including junk food. You can still have your treats every few days without consequences if you are willing to exercise a few times a week and not stuff your face more importantly.
Are we not capable of making our own minds up about nothing? Why do we need to be minded?
@Joe Bergin: We need to be minded because obesity, heart disease and diabetes are on the rise because some people can’t take responsibility for their own health and advertising junk food doesn’t do anyone any favours.
@Thunder Snowman: that’s called having a mind of your own.. that is your choice.. and choice is your right
@Joe Bergin: I don’t need to be minded. I’m 8 stone. But I think most people I know need to be minded and I’m happy to help out because I’d actually prefer of I didn’t have to look at and smell disgusting food all day. Seriously the queue for donuts in Pearse station in the morning! What the hell is wrong with people, have they lost all their traditional eating habits to consumerism?
Yes the less exposure children have to junk foid the better.
@Maria Coleman: tell them ..there not having it… it’s called parenting
@Maria Coleman: why not teach them it’s bad.. do you not speak to your children
Why stop at junk food? Can we just ban advertising altogether? All of it. No more ads plastering social media feed, no more youtube video interruptions. No more interruptions to watching TV shows or movies. It can even cover election material and we can stop seeing those bloody posters.
No. Dublin bus should clamp down on people that think it’s acceptable to smell up the whole bus eating their smelly takeaway on their commute though. Nothing worse than the stench of a Chinese or McD’s on a packed bus.
@Séa Graham: Tolerance,and compromise my good man.
@Martin Ryan: I’m trying Martin but when you’re perfect in every way it can be hard at times…
@Séa Graham: yeah i know it can be a struggle .
I’d love a Kristy burger right now.
Junk Food Industry is worth billions and the PR behind it is serious to the extent that it even can persuade most of Society that this Crap is essential to your Diet and well being frighting stuff ! to eat as well
@Johnny Mason: They don’t spend millions on advertising including spending on companies with expertise on psychological manipulation because they want to give us something colorful to look at on our morning commute…It mightn’t work on a lot of adults that grew up only seeing a fast food joint once in a blue moon but it certainly works on younger people and kids. “Get em young” as the tobacco industry used to say..
can i have a snack box and a DIET Coke….
@Adrianholland: Mighty bucket for one and diet cola for me.
For f sake f off .. leave people make decisions for themselves.. eventually we will all have to be in bed by 8pm. If all these rules and dictations continue to come..
@OCallaghan TP: nobody is saying you’re not allowed to eat crap. It’s just that the ads should be limited. Then you can make your own mind up without marketers preying on your most basic instincts and getting you to buy things that you had decided not to. Look around at the number of fat people. The environment has to change for the sake of the nation’s health.
@SC: that is there choice ..who are you or anyone to say what you can or cannot eat.. betting is probably worse than all this.. why is that not banned
The article focuses on ads for children. The responsibility rests with parenting, or lack of it. Drag the kids around retail parks on a weekend as a form of entertainment and hey ho, feed them and yourself fast food whilst they’re on their phones. It’s the norm sadly and lazy.
junk journalism more like , is this really newsworthy , with everything else going on in the country corruption fraudulent taxes banking cartels mortgage extorsion the biggest housing crisis to hit the country
being over weight comes, in part, from eating too much…… just let that sink in…. eating too much… which can also include drinking too much…..
Some people metabolise the foods they eat faster then others, but in all cases one must “exercise” to rid oneself of the energy consumed in the food eaten. This “exercise” includes breathing and other stationary exercises, but this is not adequate to use up the surplus energy most people consume when eating, so more exercise, walking, running, swimming, cycling, sports, etc. are just as essential.
Creating the correct environment for our younger generation to exercise should be the priority and this must be all inclusive and not just focused on the “top” athletes… Every child at the age of six should be spending several hours outdoors playing, running, jumping, etc. but instead we have created a society where we are afraid to let children play and even remove that play environment by having children minded in minders or kept in doors for their own safety.
Stop blaming the fast food and sugary drinks, they are only contributors, but at the end of the day it is more associated with lifestyle in the 21st century.
But it should be added that some people do tend to retain weight more then others, and getting the balance correct can be a lot harder for some, but one has to ask if the 50s and 60s attitude of “eating it all up” needs to be replaced with an “it’s ok to leave it” as we eat more and portions grow bigger. This is compounded by “regular meal times” where people gather and eat regardless of their need or hunger…..
Removing adverts with not change attitudes and lifestyles…
Maybe we should just ban junk food? problem sorted….
We are becoming a nation of nanny minders . For god’s sake stop trying to take choice away from people . Everyone knows that extreme amounts of anything is bad for you. Credit people with some personal responsibility and common sense.
@Mary Mc Carthy:
There is a lunny leftie group trying to control everyone
They believe they know best and treat adults like children – it is quite sinister the underlying assumptions.
Ban this ban that – it never ends
How about having a free country where people can make their decisions without interference by the government or control freaks
Banning Drinking, smoking and violent behaviour would be a priority on our publuc transport I would think?
@Fred Conlan: oh shut up
Irish ‘public transport’… The industry will be up in arms, Lol!
Stop the nanny state Lynn lefties totalitarianism – let grown adults make their own decisions and stop trying to co trip people .
How about a free country of adults – with minimum interference by government and lobby groups and ideologies.
This country is getting ridiculous
Ban drink on canal during 3 days of good weather
Ban auger
Ban alchohol
Ban breathing
Treat adults like children
Ffs
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