The Advertising Association promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. We represent UK advertisers, agencies and brands on behalf of the entire industry, acting as the connection between industry professionals and the politicians and policy-makers.

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The Advertising Association focuses on major industry and policy areas that have huge ramifications on UK advertising. This section contains our work around Brexit, HFSS and gambling advertising, data and e-privacy, trust, the digital charter and our Industrial Strategy campaigns.

Credos is the advertising industry’s independent think tank. It produces research, evidence and reports into the impact and effectiveness of and public and political response to advertising on behalf of UK advertisers in order to enable the industry to make informed decisions.

Front Foot is our industry’s member network of over 50 businesses across UK advertising. It aims to promote the role of responsible advertising and its value to people, society and the economy through a coalition of senior leaders from advertisers, agencies and media owners.

We run a number of events throughout the year, from our annual LEAD summit to the Media Business Course and regular breakfast briefings for our members. We are also the official UK representative for the world’s biggest festival of creativity – Cannes Lions.

AA COMMENT ON AN HFSS WATERSHED

/ June 4th 2020 / Noa Cohen
High Fat, Salt & Sugar Advertising

The Obesity Health Alliance Survey, published June 4th 2020, showed public support for a 9pm watershed on HFSS advertising, among other potential government measures to curb obesity in the UK. In light of this, the AA’s Chief Executive, Stephen Woodford, has issued the following statement:

“The UK already has advertising rules which are among the strictest in the world. All the evidence shows that further advertising restrictions, like a pre-9 pm watershed ban, would have no impact on obesity levels. Instead, we need to look at how advertising, which has just demonstrated how public behaviour can be encouraged to change during the Covid-19 lockdown, can be used to support positive messages around lifestyles and healthier food choices. That will be far more effective than advertising bans to bring about the change campaigners like the OHA are looking for.”

“We support a healthier, more active society, but any action that might involve further restrictions on industry must be proportionate, evidence-based and effective and not cause damage to an already fragile advertising and media landscape, while having little to no effect in lowering obesity levels.”

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