Singapore to become first country to ban ads for very sugary drinks
Singapore: Singapore will become the first country in the world to ban ads for the most unhealthy sugary drinks in its latest move to combat rising diabetes rates, the health ministry said Thursday.
Products deemed "less healthy" must now display labels grading their nutritional and sugar content, with those considered to be most unhealthy banned from appearing in ads across all media platforms, including broadcast, print and online channels.
"This aims to reduce the influence of such advertisements on consumer preferences," the ministry said, calling the ban a world-first. It added that the measures were only a start and it will continue to explore the possibility of a sugar tax or ban.
"We urge SSB (sugar-sweetened beverages) manufacturers to consider reformulating their drinks to contain less sugar even as we further study these measures," it said.
The ministry said it will obtain industry feedback in the coming months on how to implement the measures and announce more details next year.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, 13.7 per cent of adults suffer from diabetes in Singapore, one of the highest rates among developed nations.
Other marketing bans around the world have focused on restricting children's exposure to junk food ads.
Some 420 million people around the world today suffer from diabetes, with the number expected to rise to 629 million by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
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Shivamogga: Rowdy sheeter brutally killed in broad daylight
Shivamogga: A 38-year-old rowdy sheeter, Rajesh Shetty, was hacked to death in broad daylight by a group of assailants near Bomanakatte on Saturday here.
The attack occurred around 1 PM near a garage close to Marammanagudi on the old Bommanakatte main road.
Sources suggest that the murder was motivated by an old grudge. Rajesh Shetty, a rowdy sheeter listed at the Vinoba Nagar police station with seven cases against him, reportedly died on the spot due to the severity of the assault.
Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Bhooma Reddy and officers from the Vinoba Nagar police station visited the crime scene and initiated an investigation.
District Defense Officer GK Mithun Kumar informed the media that three special teams have been formed to track down the culprits. He stated, "We have obtained information about the accused, and preliminary findings indicate that the killing was driven by personal reasons."
