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London Plans To Ban Junk Food Advertising On Public Transport (bloomberg.com)
Junk food advertising could be banned from the entire Transport for London network under proposals announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan, as he tries to tackle rising levels of childhood obesity in the city. From a report: "I want to reduce the influence and pressure that can be put on children and families to make unhealthy choices," Khan said in a statement announcing the proposals to ban advertisements for unhealthy food and drink on London's trains, buses and bus shelters. The mayor also proposed a ban on new hot food takeaway stores opening within 400 meters of schools.
London has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in Europe -- nearly 40 percent of 10-11 year-olds in the capital are overweight or obese, according to the statement. Children from poorer areas are disproportionately affected by the "obesity epidemic," Khan said, adding that young people from Barking and Dagenham in East London are almost twice as likely to be overweight as children from the upmarket Richmond neighborhood.
London has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in Europe -- nearly 40 percent of 10-11 year-olds in the capital are overweight or obese, according to the statement. Children from poorer areas are disproportionately affected by the "obesity epidemic," Khan said, adding that young people from Barking and Dagenham in East London are almost twice as likely to be overweight as children from the upmarket Richmond neighborhood.
Yes, it's a warzone out there
https://www.statista.com/chart/13767/london-homicide-rate-in-perspective/
The question is, does the advertising on junk food cause more people to purchase junk food than otherwise would? The answer is self-evidently yes. (by following the money).
The answer is not as simple as that. It will increase the amount spent at the advertiser's stores, otherwise they wouldn't do it. Does it increase the size of the overall market?
We had a "Burgerville" move in to replace a local Wendy's. (Wendy's made the stupid decision to simultaneously close many of their stores for a system-wide remodel; some of them never re-opened.) They're the "high class" fast food with $6 burgers. Across the street is a McDs that doesn't seem as busy as it used to be, and one block away is a Burger King that I know isn't as busy because it is boarded up closed. New store, new ads, but the market didn't expand to keep everyone in business.
So this move will obviously reduce the amount of junk food ingested.
There your "it's obvious" argument fails. A customer who is likely to buy a McD product based on the ad is already likely to buy something from any convenient store he passes by. Advertising sometimes tries to increase a market; sometimes it only redirects the existing market to make different choices.
It's not a great leap to think that this will in turn reduce the amount of obesity.
Uhh, yeah, actually it is. You're now two levels away from "obvious". If someone doesn't see an ad for McD, does that mean he will eat something more healthful? Or will he just buy junk food from a convenience store (or the main grocery), or some other cheap stuff that isn't good for him but is quick and easy to consume? If you aren't reminded of how convenient McD is, will you find a grocer with fresh produce, buy the parts to make a balanced dinner, go home and take the hour to prepare and eat it, or will you just stop in the shop on the corner and pick up some takeout of something else?
Are those people who used to stop at the BK in my town now eating well-balanced, nutritious meals prepared fresh? Or are they in line at Burgerville or McD?
If you are a consumer already primed to eat well, then a McDs ad will be irrelevant. McD and other fast food ads are targeted at people who are already going to make poor choices in their foods, and that's what causes the health problems, not which of the many fast food places they pick to consume their poor food choices.