How to Stop Companies from Marketing Sugary Drinks to Kids
Today, kids are taking in too much sugar and are influenced by company marketing. Here are some changes that we need to see and steps parents can take to make a difference in their kids’ health by lowering sugar consumption.
Further efforts are needed to improve the beverage marketing environment to support, rather than harm, young people’s health. Here are three key areas that can make a difference.
Beverage companies must stop marketing unhealthy products directly to youth.
- Stop targeting teens with marketing for sugary drinks and highly caffeinated products.
- Introduce children’s drinks with less than 40 calories per serving and no nonnutritive sweeteners.
- All companies should provide easily accessible ingredient information online.
- Do not target sugary drink marketing to communities that suffer disproportionately from diet-related diseases, including Hispanic and black youth.
- Strengthen the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative standards to include all forms of marketing to children up to age 14.
Policymakers can introduce regulation and legislation.
- Require transparent product labeling, including calories, added sugars, and artificial sweetener content on the front of all packaging.
- Require products that feature nutrition-related claims on the package to meet minimum nutrition standards.
Parents can make a difference.
- Check ingredient lists on packages of children’s drinks for added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors.
- Advocate for healthy beverages in schools, childcare centers, after-school programs, and other youth-focused settings.
- Contact beverage companies and tell them to stop their harmful marketing practices.