Britain to ban fast food ads before watershed in fight against obesity

British public does not want junk food advertisements on television. They view them similarly to other addictive substances, whose adverts can only be aired late at night. Regulations are to come into effect in autumn 2025.

The British government confirmed: The ban on showing fast food ads on television before 21:00 will come into effect on 1 October 2025.

Commercials for well-known chains with unhealthy food will be treated like other addictive substances, and there will be no place for them in the advertising slot or online. This is another step by the British in the fight against the childhood obesity epidemic.

This is a conservative idea. Such solutions were announced back in 2021 when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister, but according to the BBC, it was postponed to give the industry more time to prepare.

These restrictions will help protect children from being exposed to advertising of less healthy food and drinks, which evidence shows influences their dietary preferences from a young age – said Health Minister Andrew Gwynne before the House of Commons on Thursday.

The British government published its response to the 2022 consultations; the project defined the products, businesses, and services covered by the restrictions.

More than one in five children in England are overweight or living with obesity by the time they start primary school, and this rises to more than one third by the time they leave – explained the British Health Minister.