What the Government Says About Advertising

8th September, 2011 by Sarah Stephenson

I only just heard about this and need to tell it

Clearly the Government are trying to rid Australia of it eye-catching or no eye-catching brands, advertisements & products.

One of the issues involves cigarette packaging. Mandatory plain packaging seems to be predicated on the belief that attractive packaging is enough to convince non-smokers to become smokers, or that for smokers trying to quit, a good-looking logo or the color of the package is just too much to bear.

I spoke to a few people and about a few say; they didn’t care what the packaging colors are on cigarette packaging. So it show people are no concern over this but would still smoke the product, all the same.

Another issue is related to Junk food Advertisement. There are literally dozen of proposals to deal with Australia’s love of junk food. The National Preventatives Health Taskforce has recommended everything from subsidies for gym memberships to subsidising fresh food. But the most prominent proposal-and one which has had the longest running support from the public health community-is a ban on junk food ads targeting children, or a ban on junk food ads broadcasting during childrens’ programming.

It so means to not giving kids choices whether to snack on lollies or something at the canteen. But apart from that kids enjoy watching the ads. It’s a good source of entertainment. When I was a kid I love watch the ads on Saturday mornings.

The government should realise the ads are not harmful to kids. Another thing the government are outlawing is the playground. At this rate kids would slowly turn into couch-potatoes by next year.

So you see this give our posts a shaky chance. And might take all the fun out of entertaining the public. I hope it never happens. I hope other feel the same.

Sarah

View comments

The government is not trying to generally rid Australia of advertisements, brands or playgrounds. There is no evidence for this. Rather the government is trying to eradicate all forms of tobacco advertising including the brand symbols and colours on a pack. No one is pretending that this would be a silver bullet to stop smokers from smoking and non-smokers from starting. But there is evidence that this would be some kind of disincentive -- otherwise there would be no point making the change.

The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence that smoking is harmful, the myriad individual stories of tobacco-related pain and misery, and the knowledge that the tobacco industry has used manipulation and deception to sell its product convinces me that this is a good idea.
Posted by Nicholas Gross on 14th September 2011

You asked for proof so here is a website to back me up.
http://www.ipa.org.au/publications/1725/10-worst-nanny-state-policies

Here you will find everything.
Sarah

Posted by Sarah Stephenson on 29th September 2011

'Proof' you say? The IPA ain't generally known for their balanced view on these sorts of things.

I think they actually receive funding from Philip Morris, one of the world's largest cigarette companies.

I don't think the argument is whether these ads are 'entertaining' or not, it's whether it's wise to allow businesses to market products of questionable health to kids who might not quite understand the concept of advertising.
Posted by Shane Keane on 10th October 2011

As to your question ‘kids who might not quite understand the concept of advertising?’
Well that not all true. If you asked around at playgrounds, asked your friend’s or their friend’s children you’ll get there answer.

You can see from the result at the shops, that kids take in the interest in what shine and new.
The kids ad always link to the new and shine product that kid's like.

Like for examples Ben 10, Bratz and etc, their the best details ad that take interested to kids. I know a number of kids buy products based off them.

With kids it a never end feeling where you want things that strike you when you watch the ads. The Key would in all kids ad is ‘want’.

With adult the ads are always serious and maybe not always to the point. With kids it looking at fiction & fantast and add up all the pieces the ad will continue to take hold of the kid audence.

Posted by Sarah Stephenson on 10th October 2011