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Food and drink advertising ban prohibits healthy competition

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has today critisised the Queensland Prevention Alliance's call for a total ban of food and drink advertising directed at children.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said a ban on advertising completely legal products and services was stripping retailers of their right to compete against opponents in the marketplace.

"Advertising is a competitive tool used as part of any standard marketing mix. For many retailers the only time to reach busy working mums with advertising messages is when they are watching television or spending time with their children - and it is the retailer's prerogative to exercise this right.

"This is an attack on retailers' right to compete and a government that supports the ban of food and drink advertising is a government that supports anti-competitive behaviour.

"If we start to consider the total ban of food and drink advertising - keeping in mind these are completely legal products - one has to wonder where the line will be drawn. Will interest-free loans and car sales be next on the advertising prohibition list? Or will we forbid advertising altogether?

"Just as we've seen with bans on tobacco advertising, banning food and drink advertising will not reduce the number of children consuming 'junk' food. It will simply entrench the market share of existing brands by restricting competition in the market place.

"No retailer or food manufacturer is under the delusion that it is good for children to eat unhealthy food on a regular basis. However, these bans assume that parents are not fit to make up their own minds about the benefits or otherwise of certain food and drink products. If this is the case - if parents aren't fit to make healthy choices for their children - let's not shift the blame. Let's focus on the real issue of parental responsibility and childhood education.

"Many retailers are already doing their part by broadening their product range to include healthy alternatives for children. Under the proposed ban, instead of being congratulated these retailers will be punished with restrictions on their right to engage in healthy competition.

"A ban on the advertising of food and drink products directed at children will do nothing to solve the obesity epidemic. What we need is a government focus on educating parents and children. What we don't need is the Government placing restrictions on a retailer's right to engage in healthy competition," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

For interview opportunities with ARA Executive Director Richard Evans contact:
Kath Christie, ARA Policy & Media T: 0422 293 544 E: kath.christie@retail.org.au

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