In Australia, a disturbing new trend is emerging: fast-food companies like Taco Bell and Hungry Jack's are sending birthday vouchers direct to kids in the mail.
The Obesity Policy Coalition has been asking the Federal Government to ban direct mail to children, so far unsuccessfully.
The Obesity Policy Coalition includes organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Diabetes Australia, and campaigns on various diet-related issues. Their site explains:
The OPC was established with the aim of influencing change in policy and regulation to support obesity prevention, particularly in Australian children.
In appealing to the Senate, the Obesity Policy Coalition said that kids were particularly swayed by advertising messages, and should be protected:
Children's susceptibility to commercial influence means that use of their personal information for direct marketing unfairly manipulates them, and is likely to harm them in other ways.
I agree. But, I was also struck that the kids being targeted in this way, in the case of Hungry Jack's at least, were members of the "Kids Club". At some stage, parents have presumably agreed to signing their kids up to a fast-foot outlet's membership program.
What do you think? Should direct mail advertising to kids be banned? And if so, how much impact would it have in the battle against childhood obesity?
Image Credit: ferret111
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