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After successfully reducing smoking rates in Australia, leading health organisations have joined forces to reduce consumption of sugary drinks, launching a TV advertisement that aims to ‘turn us off’ sugar by completely turning our stomachs.
Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia and Heart Foundation (Victoria) wants all Australians to Rethink Sugary Drink. The campaign, which also has the support of the Australian Dental Association and Nutrition Australia, includes a website and a TV advertisement (see below) highlighting the link between sugary drinks and weight gain.
The people behind the ad said it is was created in response to recent moves by soft drink companies to publicly position themselves as “part of the obesity solution” via expensive advertising and PR spin campaigns.
As evidenced by this TV advertisement, the Rethink Sugary Drink forum is pulling no punches in their campaign to turn us completely off sugary drinks. The visual images in this ad really are quite disgusting.
The alliance between health organisations, also known as the Rethink Sugary Drink forum, was formed in early 2013. The Rethink Sugary Drink forum met for the first time on Wednesday (October 2) to discuss health risks associated with the high consumption of sugary drinks and to discuss policy options to reduce consumption. One of the options discussed was the banning of sugary drinks in schools, hospitals and sporting centres.
Craig Sinclair, Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s Public Health Committee, said “Improving people’s awareness of the amount of sugar and kilojoules in these drinks is important but it needs to be backed up with good policy.”
“It’s hard to encourage people to drink water if once they venture out of home it’s impossible to find a water tap or a vending machine that isn’t full of sugary drinks. It’s time for government, community-based organisations and workplaces to start looking at policies to facilitate change,” he said.
For more information about the Rethink Sugary Drink campaign visit the website: www.rethinksugarydrink.org.au