Singapore will ban ads for sugary drinks in bid to tackle diabetes
- The ban will apply across television, print, billboards and online channels such as social media websites
- Singapore has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, partly caused by its ageing population and a culture of eating at hawker centres
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Products deemed “less healthy” must now display labels grading their nutritional and sugar content, with those considered to be most unhealthy banned from appearing in ads across all media platforms, including broadcast, print and online channels.
“This aims to reduce the influence of such advertisements on consumer preferences,” the ministry said, calling the ban a world-first.
It added that the measures were only a start and it would continue to explore the possibility of a sugar tax or ban.
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“We urge SSB (sugar-sweetened beverages) manufacturers to consider reformulating their drinks to contain less sugar even as we further study these measures,” the ministry said.
The ministry said it would obtain industry feedback in the coming months on how to implement the measures and announce more details next year.
“Our rapidly ageing population and rising prevalence of chronic diseases will lead us to an unsustainable, costly system with poorer health outcomes if we do not intervene,” said Edwin Tong, Senior Minister of State for Health, in a press conference on Thursday.
The number of Singaporeans aged 65 and over will double in the next 10 years, he said.
The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s biggest beverage maker, said it welcomed the plans and would work to reduce sugar levels in its drinks sold in Singapore.
“We will continue to rethink many of our recipes in Singapore to reduce sugar, because while sugar in moderation is fine, we agree that too much of it is not good for anyone,” said Ahmed Yehia, country manager for Coca-Cola Singapore and Malaysia. “We foresee minimal impact on our portfolio from this announcement.”
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According to the International Diabetes Federation, 13.7 percent of adults suffer from diabetes in Singapore.
Other marketing bans around the world have focused on restricting children’s exposure to junk food ads.
Some 420 million people around the world today suffer from diabetes, with the number expected to rise to 629 million by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Singapore has adopted other measures to improve the health of its citizens. In 2017, the government said it had convinced soft drink makers to reduce the sugar content sold in the city state.
Smoking has also been a target, with a ban in certain public areas in the 1970s progressively expanding over time.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
