It has no place, it won’t have space – unhealthy food and drink advertising to be restricted on buses, trains and trams

Advertising of unhealthy food and drinks is harmful, especially for kids. That’s why a new policy is being introduced in South Australia to prohibit specific forms of unhealthy food and drinks on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams.

South Australia is the first state in the country to make the move. From 1 July 2025, images of unhealthy products such as chocolate, lollies, confectionary, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips will not be permitted on these publicly owned and managed assets.

Preventive Health SA has been advocating for change, following research and growing concerns about rising rates of overweight and obesity in the community and increases in associated chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Around 63.1 per cent of adults and 35.2 per cent of children across South Australia are currently overweight or obese. Modelling indicates that if no action is taken, the number of people overweight or obese is expected to grow by an additional 1,800 children and 48,000 adults over the next five years. In addition, recent research commissioned by Preventive Health SA shows that without action children born in 2023 could see as much as a seven-month reduction in life expectancy because of obesity

South Australian children are regularly exposed to unhealthy food and drink advertising.

Data from Cancer Council SA shows that almost 80 per cent of food and drink advertisements on South Australian buses promote unhealthy food and drinks.

Marina Bowshall, Chief Executive Preventive Health SA confirmed “Last year, the Cancer Council completed an audit of food and drink advertising on public transport which found almost 80 per cent of the food advertisements within a 500 metre radius of 65 metropolitan Adelaide schools, promoted unhealthy foods.

Advertising of unhealthy food and drinks has long been recognised as having a harmful impact on the diets of children. There is a consistent body of evidence that demonstrates that food and drink marketing can affect a child’s nutrition knowledge, food preferences and consumption patterns.

Preventive Health SA, in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, are leading the implementation of this policy which aims to reduce exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing which is associated with a reduction in the purchase of these products.

This evidence-based policy has been informed by a public consultation process, which sought to understand the perspective and feedback of key stakeholders including public health organisations, the food and beverage industry, and the advertising industry.

The changes follow the implementation of similar policies in London, Amsterdam, and the Australian Capital Territory and the release of new statistics which show obesity has overtaken tobacco as the leading risk factor in preventable health conditions and hospital admissions.

Preventive Health SA is committed to action on obesity, and will be working towards implementation of additional measures to further respond to this public health challenge in the coming months.

“Unhealthy diets continue to be a leading public health risk” said Marina Bowshall.

“Reducing exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing, promotion, and sponsorship, especially children’s exposure, is a focus for Preventive Health SA and is a key priority within the National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032.”

The policy will take effect from 1 July 2025.