Junk food advertising will be banned on public buses, trains and trams in a bid to tackle obesity, which has overtaken tobacco as the leading risk factor contributing to disease burden in Australia.
The State Government will, from 1 July 2025, ban images of unhealthy products such as chocolate, lollies, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams.
Around 63.1 per cent of adults and 35.2 per cent of children across South Australia are overweight or obese. Last year, overweight and obesity accounted for just over eight per cent of total disease burden in Australia.
If no action is taken, modelling indicates that the number of South Australians living with overweight or obesity is expected to grow by an additional 1900 children and 48,000 adults over the next five years.
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, which evidence shows can affect a child's nutrition knowledge, food preferences and consumption patterns.
Preventive Health SA, in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, is leading the implementation of the policy, which has been informed by a public consultation process.
Preventive Health SA's Chief Executive Officer Marina Bowshall said unhealthy diets continued to be a leading public health risk.
"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," she said.
Cancer Council SA, Prevention and Advocacy Manager, Christine Morris, welcomed the ban, calling it a "positive move towards a healthier community".
"We know that minimising unhealthy food and drink advertising can lead to better health outcomes for everyone," she said.
"Our research shows that forming the foundations of positive nutrition preferences in children is a big step in overall cancer prevention."
The changes follow the implementation of similar policies in London, Amsterdam and the Australian Capital Territory.
