Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, par. 32 and par. 33 (2016)

Text of the recommendation

32. States can take other steps to facilitate the adoption of healthy lifestyles, with a view to ensuring policy coherence and effectiveness. One such measure is the adoption of laws limiting the marketing of tobacco and unhealthy food and beverages in the context of school-based sporting activities and at professional sporting events. Food advertising is frequently geared towards children, and much of it concerns foods with high levels of saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, sugar or salt (referred to hereinafter as “unhealthy foods”); this influences children’s preferences, purchase requests and consumption patterns. WHO has recommended that settings where children gather should be free from all forms of marketing of unhealthy foods; this includes settings in which sporting or cultural activities for children are held. Regulating or banning the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco30 and alcohol31 in these contexts is also recommended by WHO.

33. States should ban the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of all children’s sporting events, and other sporting events which could be attended by children, by manufacturers of alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods. States should create guidelines that either restrict altogether, or minimize the impact of, the marketing of unhealthy foods, alcohol and tobacco in the context of all sporting events.