Tag: advertising
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The people’s award for undermining taxpayer-funded health promotion messages goes to…
(drum roll) The people’s award for undermining taxpayer-funded health promotion messages goes to… Mars Wrigley Confectionary, makes of Maltesers, a confectionary multinational who have just launched this Maltesers-inspired chocolate bar into Australia. You’ll want to sit down for this, it urges in billboard advertising. Clearly something momentous. A new chocolate bar. With Maltesers. Call…
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Put another Winfield on the Barbie
Having actor Paul Hogan headline Cure Cancer’s “Barbecure” makes no sense to me. Put another shrimp on the barbie, I get it. But so what? Hogan may regret the staggeringly successful “Anyhow, have a Winfield” advertising campaign he headed in the 1970s, but his presence in a cure cancer campaign is inept. It muddies the…
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Santa, Coke and Christmas: Why we need legislative restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children
Laws in many countries prohibit false and misleading advertising. The recent case of ACCC v Heinz (which I discussed in a blog post last week) shows how these laws can knock out false and misleading food advertisements. But what about the perfectly legal promotions for unhealthy foods and beverages that fill our TV screens, social…
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ACCC v Heinz: A significant win for public health
In a significant victory for public health, Australia’s Federal Court has held that Heinz engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in the marketing of a snack food targeted to toddlers (ACCC v Heinz [2018] FCA 360). The case should be seen as a win for public health not just because of the final outcome, but…
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“Party like it’s payday!” urges Diageo Australia (before your welfare cheque runs out?)
It looks like Diageo Australia is at it again. No, this time they’re not advertising Bundy Rum to a 3 year old. Instead, they’re urging Western Australians to “Party like it’s payday” – hoisting ads for Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold Rum around the Perth suburbs, including right outside a Centrelink office. Whatever were they…
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Are these photos the pointy end of tobacco control? Or just another example of what the tobacco industry does best?
If the e-cigarette industry in Australia has a martyr, his name is probably Vince van Heerden. More about him in a moment. Advocates for e-cigarettes claim that they are a healthier alternative to smoking, and provide a ray of hope for desperately addicted smokers. However, before you make up your mind, look at how e-cigarettes…
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WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity presents final report and recommendations
The World Health Organisation’s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, appointed by WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan in 2014, has now formally presented its final report. The Commission was co-chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Dr Sania Nishtar, the founder and President of Heartfile, a…
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The ACT sin bins junk food ads on buses
The ACT attracted media attention this week for becoming the first Australian jurisdiction to regulate ride-sharing services like Uber. But the ACT’s also been active in an area that’s close to the heart of many public health advocates: regulation of junk food and alcohol advertising. Promotions for these products will be banned on ACTION buses, along…
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Bundaberg Rum and Dora the Explorer: the reality of alcohol advertising in Australia
My 3-year old daughter loves Dora the Explorer. She thinks that bossy little know-it-all, Dora, is really cool. She used to be frightened of The Swiper, but that changed as she grew older. Last night, I sat her down in front of a laptop and let her watch an episode of Dora on YouTube. Right…
Sydney Health Law 