Junk food adverts before 9pm to be banned next year

Junk food adverts will be banned on TV before 9pm from October 2025, the government confirmed.

Boris Johnson, the former Conservative prime minister, first announced adverts for foods high in fat, salt and sugar would be banned from TV before 9pm back in 2021.

But the ban was delayed to 2025, with the Conservative government saying they wanted to give the food and drink industry time to prepare for the change following the cost of living crisis.

The government also announced there would be a complete ban on paid-for online advertising, including on video and gaming streaming sites, though the details on this are not clear yet.

"These restrictions will help protect children from being exposed to advertising of less healthy food and drinks," said Health Minister Andrew Gwynne.

Why does the government want to ban junk food advertising?

The government wants children to make healthier choices

Experts have long called for a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm because this is when children are most likely to be watching TV.

Banning adverts like this is one of the ways this government say they want to tackle obesity.

The Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) is a group of more than 40 health charities and organisations also campaigned for this change.

They say there is a clear link between food advertising and the food children prefer.

"These restrictions will help protect children from being exposed to advertising of less healthy food and drinks, which evidence shows influences their dietary preferences from a young age," says Mr Gwynne in a statement on Thursday.

Adverts for food and soft drink products that are high in fat, salt or sugar are already not allowed to be directed at people aged under 16 according to rules by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Companies can have adverts banned if they break these rules.