The Case for Strengthening Unhealthy Food and Drink Outdoor Advertising Policies in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, a Policy Review

Exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing shapes children's dietary preferences and consumption habits, putting them at risk of diet‐related illness and violating their rights. The World Health Organisation recommends comprehensive and mandatory marketing restrictions for unhealthy food and drinks, implemented by governmental bodies, however, Aotearoa New Zealand currently relies on voluntary and self‐regulatory advertising codes. Research indicates these do not protect children and young people from unhealthy food and drink marketing, and better policies are needed. This review focused on the problem of New Zealand children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing in outdoor settings. It aimed to identify international examples of regulatory restrictions of outdoor unhealthy food and drink advertisements, review any available evidence for their effectiveness and feasibility, compare these to New Zealand's current policy framework, and provide recommendations for local policy development. Academic and policy databases were searched for sources detailing such regulations, identifying 14 regulations which limited: all child‐directed marketing ( n = 3), unhealthy food and drink marketing surrounding schools ( n = 3), on school or government buildings ( n = 2), within/on public transport systems ( n = 4), on council‐owned advertising spaces ( n = 1), and in all outdoor advertising spaces ( n = 1). From analysis of these policies and available evidence on their effectiveness and feasibility, recommendations are made for three different food and drink marketing restricting regulations that could be adopted in New Zealand's largest city, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.