London Bans Junk Food Ads On All Public Transit

CNN reports:

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Friday that junk food advertising will be banned on the city’s entire public transportation network from February, as part of a plan to tackle childhood obesity.

Restrictions will come into force February 25 and will cover all advertising for foods and non-alcoholic drinks high in fat, salt and sugar. This will include products such as chocolate bars, sugary drinks and burgers.

Khan proposed the ban in May and the mayor’s online discussion platform, Talk London, received 1,500 responses to the consultation, with an 82% approval rating for the proposal. Khan described the crisis of childhood obesity as a “ticking timebomb.”

According to Khan’s office, London’s child obesity rate is among the highest in Europe, with nearly 40% of ten year-olds considered overweight or obese.