Does banning advertising for unhealthy products lead to healthier food purchases? Gathering baseline data for the Bristol ad ban
Research has shown that the more people see adverts for unhealthy products, the more they use them.
Outdoor public spaces such as bus stops and billboards are important locations for adverts because many people see them. Evidence suggests removing these ads can have positive impacts on public health.
In 2019, Transport for London banned advertisements for high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) foods and drinks on its premises, and subsequent evaluation of the impact of this advertisement policy suggested that this had resulted in households buying fewer calories.
In 2021, Bristol City Council became the first city outside London to introduce a similar policy. Bristol’s policy also bans ads for alcohol, gambling and payday loans.
Project aims
This project is an initial data gathering exercise to feed into a larger evaluation study.
We want to gather baseline data before the Bristol advertisement policy starts. We will also collect information in neighbouring South Gloucestershire, which isn’t bringing in such a policy. This will be a useful comparison to the Bristol information.
We will collect the following information from Bristol and South Gloucestershire:
- Whether people feel they have been exposed to adverts for high fat, salt and sugar foods, alcohol and gambling
- Whether people have recently bought high fat, salt and sugar foods, alcohol, or gambling
- Measuring how exposed people are to these ads at council-owned sites
- Interview council staff to understand their views on the policy and how its being implemented
What we hope to achieve
The information we gather will be important baseline data for a larger evaluation.
Lead collaborators
- Zoi Toumpakari, University of Bristol
- Steven Cummins, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Sarah Blake, public contributor
ARC West Staff
Professor Russ Jago
Co-Theme Lead, Public Health
Professor Jeremy Horwood
Professor of Social Sciences and Health
Carlos Sillero Rejon
Research Associate, Health Economics
Lauren Scott
Senior Research Associate, Quantitative Research/Evidence Synthesis
Dr Rowan Brockman
Senior Research Associate
Sara Blackmore
Co-Theme leadPartners on this project
Bristol City Council
The council plays a vital role in the health community as public health is part of its remit. Its role is to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population of Bristol. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and it focuses on the population as a whole, not on individual patients or diseases.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board
The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the NHS. The NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB takes account of population needs, arranges for the provision of services and manages the NHS budget.
South Gloucestershire Council
South Gloucestershire Council has responsibility for public health in its area, including encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, smoking cessation and vaccination uptake.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is internationally renowned and one of the very best in the UK, due to its outstanding teaching and research, its superb facilities and highly talented students and staff. Its students thrive in a rich academic environment which is informed by world-leading research. It hosts the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research.