Disappearing from our screens
I hope your Christmas preparations are coming along nicely!
This time of year is always a highlight for me—time with family, cosy evenings watching festive films, and, of course, indulging in some holiday treats.
The mince pies and sausage rolls are still on my to-do list, but the Christmas cake is ready, just waiting for its final touches of marzipan and icing.
One of the things I truly enjoy about this season is the festive advertising. It’s not just the big, heartwarming campaigns from the iconic brands that catch my eye, but also the tempting, playful ads from food retailers urging us to embrace those indulgent Christmas classics.
But this year feels a little bittersweet.
It will be the last time we see ads showcasing the full Christmas spread: golden roast turkey, pigs in blankets, buttery mince pies, rich Christmas pudding, decadent cheesecakes, and an abundance of chocolates.
Starting October 1st next year, many of these festive staples—and even some surprising ones—will no longer be allowed to be advertised online or on TV before 9 p.m. due to the government’s “junk food” advertising ban.
The rules are part of a strategy to address the UK’s obesity crisis, 26% of adults are classed as obese. While tackling this issue is crucial, it feels like there might be better ways than classifying an unexpectedly broad range of foods as “less healthy.”
Did you know even porridge, crumpets, and bagels will fall under these restrictions?
So, let’s savour the festive ads this year—they’ll look quite different next Christmas.
This is my final email for 2024 (can you believe how quickly the year has flown by?).
I hope you’ve enjoyed my musings throughout the year.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to entertaining and helping you again on January 7th.
Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a wonderful New Year!