The Advertising Standards Authority is doubling down on its mission to ban ads for so-called ‘unhealthy food and drinks.’ Their latest plan targets “online media at any time” as well as Ofcom-regulated programmes between 5:30am and 9:00pm. The dynamic duo of censorship…
Previously ads for brands associated with “less healthy” (LHF) products were allowed as long as the specific unhealthy product wasn’t shown. Now the ASA’s ‘revised guidance’ says “even if your ad does not explicitly refer to or feature an LHF product – it may still be restricted under law”. Meaning even without a burger or a can of Coke in sight if a company’s considered part of the ‘bad for you’ club the nanny-state’s heavy hand will step in. Expect the food industry to be steaming mad…
Lord Khan in the Telegraph: “I hope, and I say this in a non-pompous way, that the public service I do will bring rewards in this world and the hereafter,” he says. “I’m hoping the work I do is earning me Brownie points.”