Characterizing restrictions on commercial advertising and sponsorship of harmful commodities in local government policies: a nationwide study in England


McKevitt, Sarah, White, Martin, Petticrew, Mark, Summerbell, Carolyn, Vasiljevic, Milica, Boyland, Emma ORCID: 0000-0001-8384-4994, Cummins, Steven, Laverty, Anthony A, Millett, Christopher, de Vocht, Frank et al (show 2 more authors) (2023) Characterizing restrictions on commercial advertising and sponsorship of harmful commodities in local government policies: a nationwide study in England. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 45 (4). pp. 878-887.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Commercial advertising and sponsorship drive the consumption of harmful commodities. Local authorities (LAs) have considerable powers to reduce such exposures. This study aimed to characterize local commercial policies across all English LAs.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a census of all English LAs (n = 333) to identify local commercial policies concerning advertising and sponsorship of tobacco, alcohol, less healthy foods and gambling, through online searches and Freedom of Information requests. We explored policy presence, commodity frequency and type, and associations with LA characteristics (region, urban/rural and deprivation).<h4>Results</h4>Only a third (106) of LAs in England had a relevant policy (32%). These included restrictions on tobacco (91%), gambling (79%), alcohol (74%) and/or less healthy foods (24%). Policy prevalence was lowest in the East of England (22%), North East (25%) and North West (27%), higher in urban areas (36%) than rural areas (28%) and lower in the least (27%) compared with the most (38%) deprived areas. Definitions in policies varied, particularly for alcohol and less healthy foods.<h4>Conclusions</h4>English LAs currently underutilize their levers to reduce the negative impacts of harmful commodity industry marketing, particularly concerning less healthy foods. Standardized guidance, including clarity on definitions and application, could inform local policy development.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: advertisement, alcohol, commercial, commercial determinants of health, document analysis, fast foods, gambling, harmful commodity industry, HFSS, junk foods, local authority, local government, marketing, non-communicable diseases, policy, population health, promotion, public health, sponsorship, sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco, ultra-processed food, unhealthy commodity industry
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 08 Sep 2023 07:38
Last Modified: 02 Dec 2023 04:09
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad155
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3172607
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