Should advertising food on television be banned?

1. 84

   Chasing Rileyposted 12 years ago

   Should advertising food on television be banned?
   
   In a society where obesity is costing America $147 billion, why is it ok to advertise a juicy burger on television that makes people with the best intentions go off their diets but it's not ok to advertise hard alcohol?

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2. 72

   DonDWestposted 12 years ago

   Are they forcing you at gun point to eat that juicy burger?
   
   Take some personal responsibility, or better yet, shut off your television.

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3. 57

   baygirl33posted 12 years ago

   One reason would be that there are many poor children watching,who are hungry and can only be longing for things they can't have.

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4. 60

   NorthEast Timberposted 12 years ago

   Hey, I know, let's not advertise anything that might tempt someone.  No ads for cars people can't afford, might make the poor feel inadequate, how about no ads for make-up,might hurt some ugly person's feelings, wait maybe no ads for stores of any kind so no one buys something they don't need or can't afford.
    
   Where do you stop?  Kinda discriminating if you only pull the ads for fattening foods when there are ads for all those other things isn't it?  The purpose of advertising is to get people to buy things you don't need.  If you need it you'll buy it anyway, so no need to advertise, right?  Why is food so much worse than those others?
   
   If you want to help cure obesity quit giving people disability money so they can just stay home and eat more.  Make them pay for their own medical care. Free medical care shouldn't be for self inflicted issues.  You don't work, you don't eat.   Best cure for obesity on the planet there is.

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5. 60

   OldSkoolFoolposted 12 years ago

   While it is true, every commercial is assaulting our ability to be content, the commercial is not the problem. It should be up to us to realize the burger wont make us happy, and ultimately kill us.

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6. 0

   HERBERT ubaldoposted 12 years ago

   No, as long as approved by the food authority.

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7. 60

   OutsideTheLinesposted 12 years ago

   If they're going to advertise McDonald's they might as well advertise methamphetamine. They both hurt your body equally. The latter is just more apparent. I think people just need to have more responsibility with their food choices so I'm going to vote that it should not be banned

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8. 89

   Just Ask Susanposted 12 years ago

   I see alcohol advertised on TV all the time. I think everyone has the right to advertise. If they take away the food advertising then I think they should take away the advertising for those adds they show for online dating and phone sex.

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9. 54

   plinkaposted 12 years ago

   I'm afraid, advertising is not a moral question.

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10. 84

    Chasing Rileyposted 12 years ago

    I love all of your answers but I'm wondering if anyone is worried about the cost to each of us from the $147 billion cost to our health care system. We all pay that cost. Advertisers make money on making people fat. It just seems that the money they make comes at a detriment to all of us. I understand that some people genetically have weight problems but I also know that obesity in the United States is at an all time high. Does anyone else feel that food companies, alcohol companies, cigarette companies make money at our expense even if we don't partake in the activities they advertise? FYI - I know that realistically, we will never see food advertising be banned. It's just ironic to me that cigarettes and hard alcohol (I think) are banned from television. What would be the rationalization for that?

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