No Ciggaretts, No Booze, No R Rated Films

[qwertz]

BKK, your use of the word "soda" suggests you're American or Canadian.

If so you'll be well aware of the power of advertising and its influence on kids.

My schooldays were characterised by meals that would cause San Quentin inmates to riot nowadays.

The McDonald equivalent then was the Wimpy chain.

We couldn't wait to break out and spend our last few pennies on a juicy burger and fries.

It's a good thing there were no junk food and Coke dispensers; we'd have produced a generation of blimps.

So I understand the kids' mentality very well; like you, I've been there.

The lawmakers in Thailand don't seem to have done their homework on this one.

[bkkmadness]

BKK, your use of the word "soda" suggests you're American or Canadian.

I've never been so insulted in my life!

...well, a few times.

Nope, was gonna say coke machine but it sold more than coke, soda just popped into my head. I'm from the UK.

In England over the past few years there has been a big campaign to get kids enjoying healthy school dinners. Not sure how well it has worked out though, I don't have much info on it.

[qwertz]

BKK, your use of the word "soda" suggests you're American or Canadian.

I've never been so insulted in my life!

...well, a few times.

Nope, was gonna say coke machine but it sold more than coke, soda just popped into my head. I'm from the UK.

In England over the past few years there has been a big campaign to get kids enjoying healthy school dinners. Not sure how well it has worked out though, I don't have much info on it.

BKK, please accept my sincere apology, I'm a Brit too.

Must have been in Germany too long.

But I still forget to say "cola" like the Germans do.

I believe that yuppie Jamie Oliver was running a healthy school dinners drive last thing I heard.

Last time I was in England I didn't notice a sharp decrease in the number of plump schoolkids though.

And Jamie himself was looking a little overfed.

[lazeeboy]

Activists urge war on snacks

By Anjira Assavanonda

The National Economic and Social Advisory Council (nesac) yesterday called for prompt government measures to control snack and junk food advertisements in the interests of children's health.

The council made the statement during a seminar it organised to follow up on the government's work in tackling junk food problems.

The cabinet on April 3 ordered agencies to regulate children's snacks in terms of nutrition, labels, sales outlets in schools and product advertisements.

Prawit Leesathapornwongsa, chairman of the consumer protection working group, said there had been no progress in controlling junk food ads.

According to Dr Prawit, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to improve the nutritional value of snacks.

It is also wants manufacturers to be required to add warning labels to the packaging, while the Education Ministry has banned the sale of snacks considered junk food in all state-run schools.

The Public Health Department also wants to promote alternative snacks that are healthier for children.

"However, in the area of commercial adverts, we have seen no action at all, as if there was no host agency tackling the issue," said Dr Prawit.

In its recommendations to the cabinet, the council insisted junk food ads should be banned from children's television programmes. The producers of the ads should also stop using child actors or popular cartoon characters to endorse unhealthy snacks.

It said the ads should contain a message warning against eating the snacks more than twice a day.

Dr Prawit said the cabinet should not lose any more time in taking action.

Assoc Prof Vithaya Kulsomboon, manager of the Consumer Protection Project at Chulalongkorn University, cited a study which says two-thirds of TV ads are devoted to junk food. On average, there are 42 ad spots in one TV programme lasting a combined 15-20 minutes.

The most frequent snack commercials advertise potato chips, followed by candy, chewing gum and jelly.

What is the country be-coming?

i would think they're looking at the usa and dont want the kids to end up obese like 47% of americans