A BAN on adverts for Black Friday, holidays abroad, fashion flash sales, flights, cruises, airports, and travel agents has been approved by Bristol City Council in a crackdown on goods and services that could harm people or be bad for the environment.
The new restrictions apply to the authority’s property, including bus shelters, digital screens and billboards, after councillors voted 8-1 in favour of the new policy.
But Cllr John Goulandris (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) said: “Whilst there is logic in supporting advertising restrictions on products which are clearly linked to public health, such as measures to discourage smoking, these latest proposals are grossly patronising and a hideous example of woke virtue-signalling by the Green administration.”
Bristol City Council deputy leader Cllr Heather Mack (Green, Lockleaze) said the new rules prohibited adverts of high-carbon products on the authority’s property.
She said: “Advertising forces itself upon all of us. Whilst scrolling, whilst walking, whilst waiting for the bus, it has negative impacts on our health and wellbeing, as well as the climate, environment and local economy.
“The Bristol Greens are committed to pushing back on this.
“As the first council to introduce restrictions on the advertising of fast fashion, we will continue to look at how we can keep improving our advertising policy so that our outdoor spaces reflect the positive values of Bristol, reduce our climate impact and improve our local neighbourhoods and economy.”
Bristol campaign group Adfree Cities said the decision last month was an important moment for the city.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter