Abstract

Objective: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are heavily advertised globally, and SSB consumption is linked to increased health risk. To reduce unhealthy food marketing, Chile implemented a regulation for products classified as high in energies, sugar, saturated fat or sodium, starting with a 2016 ban on child-targeted advertising of these products and adding a 06.00-22.00 daytime advertising ban in 2019. This study assesses changes in television advertising prevalence of ready-to-drink beverages, including and beyond SSB, to analyse how the beverage industry shifted its marketing strategies across Chile's implementation phases.Design: Beverage advertisements were recorded during two randomly constructed weeks in April-May of 2016 (pre-implementation) through 2019 (daytime ban). Ad products were classified as 'high-in' or 'non-high-in' according to regulation nutrient thresholds. Ads were analysed for their programme placement and marketing content.Setting:: Chile.Results:: From pre-regulation to daytime ban, child-targeted, daytime and total ads decreased by 518 percentage points (p.p.), 515 p.p. and 618 p.p. for high-in products and increased by 629 p.p., 549 p.p. and 618 p.p. for non-high-in products (Ps < 0001). Additionally, total ready-to-drink beverage ads increased by 54 p.p. and brand-only ads (no product shown) by 7 p.p.Conclusions:: After the regulation implementation, 'high-in' ads fell significantly, but 'non-high-in' ads rose and continued using strategies targeting children and being aired during daytime. Given research showing that advertising one product can increase preferences for a different product from that same brand and product categories, broader food marketing regulation approaches may be needed to protect children from the harmful effects of food marketing.