Consumers

Ban on food ads widened

The Committee for Advertising Practice has confirmed that restrictions on food and drink advertising to under-16s are to be widened to cover non-broadcast media. This means that as of July 1, fruit and vegetables will be the only food that can be advertised to children on television, the internet and billboards, and in magazines, newspapers and cinemas.

Contact Committee for Advertising Practice 020 7492 2100 www.cap.org.uk

One in five excluded pupils banned for drinking

The National Union of Teachers has called for an end to sponsorship links between sport and alcohol. The plea from the union’s general secretary, Steve Sinnott, came after a study revealed that one in five children either suspended or expelled are banned from their school for drinking related incidents.

Sinnott believes that the association between alcohol and sport, through sponsorship and otherwise, was partly to blame. “Drink-related deaths among young people are up 60% since 1991”, he told the teacher’s conference in Harrogate in April. “This must come to an end in advance of the Olympics in 2012”, he added.

Contact NUT 020 7388 6191 www.teachers.org.uk

UK fails drink survey

An industry-commissioned survey has found that the UK is the worst country in Western Europe for meeting guidelines for responsible advertising of alcohol. Although 4% of advertising campaigns in the EU failed the standards test, that number rose to 7.4% in the UK alone.

The annual survey of the European Forum for Responsible Drinking found that the biggest offenders were those that linked social or sexual success with drinking. The report also stressed that most of the infringements were made by just three campaigns, one of which was made by Martell for cognac. The suggestion that responsible-drinking messages, already used in some European countries, should also be applied to the UK market is expected to fuel the binge drinking debate in the UK.

Contact European Forum for Responsible Drinking 0032 2 505 6070 www.efrd.org

M&S wins green poll

Socially and environmentally aware consumers have voted Marks & Spencer the greenest supermarket through a poll conducted by The Times, demonstrating the success of M&S’ high profile Look Behind the Label advertising campaign. Second on green issues was Sainsbury’s, with Tesco following in third position.

The poll also found that the ‘conscience led consumer’ was more likely to recommend products to their friends, giving them a powerful role in leading main-stream opinion. Yet most consumers were primarily concerned with value for money, availability of health products and convenience, giving Tesco the lead overall.

Contact The Times www.timesonline.co.uk

Ethical eating

A new initiative – Ethical Eats – has been launched to promote ethical practices among London’s restaurants.

Established by London Food Link – a division of the food and farming charity, Sustain – and the aim is to encourage restaurants owners to make their supply chains more environmentally friendly and to educate diners. The initiative has been developed from London Food Link’s research into restaurants with the findings published in the One Planet Dining report, published in April. Examples of restaurants that have signed up are Moshi Moshi, Leon and S&M Café. They have met with representatives from Greenpeace and the Marine Stewardship Council.

Contact Charlotte Jarman 020 7837 1228 www.sustainweb.org