A bold public health movement that began in Knowsley is now being adopted across the entire Liverpool City Region, making it the first city region to implement a crackdown on unhealthy food advertising.
Following the pioneering lead set by Knowsley Council in 2024, the Combined Authority has now moved to ban the promotion of foods and non-alcoholic drinks high in fat, sugar and salt on CA-owned sites reflecting a shared commitment across the Combined Authority and its six local authorities to healthier advertising policies.
Liverpool City Region is working together and leading the way by adopting these policies across the entire area to protect residents from the influence of unhealthy food and drink advertising.
Knowsley has championed the initiative since the introduction of its own policy, working closely with neighbouring councils to support them to implement their own policies.
Commenting on the Combined Authority’s decision, Cllr Bannon, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Health, said: “This is an important move for public health across Knowsley and the wider city region. By standing together, we are shielding our children and communities from the relentless influence of junk food marketing and giving every family a fairer chance at a healthy life.
“I am incredibly proud that Knowsley’s early leadership served as the catalyst for this regional shift.
“Our decision to ban unhealthy food and drink ads on council-owned sites was a bold move and signalled our commitment to a healthier and more equitable future for all residents.
“We have championed our approach with other local authorities and I’m proud that we now have a unified stance in the city region on unhealthy food and drink advertising.”
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed to a phased roll out of restrictions on advertising of unhealthy foods and drinks on CA-owned sites at its meeting on Friday 23 January 2026.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said: “Where adverts appear on publicly owned infrastructure, they should work in the public interest. In some of our communities, children are growing up surrounded by adverts for products that damage their health – we’re putting a stop to that.
“Too many families are living with the consequences of poor diet and ill health – and it’s no coincidence that the most impacted communities are often the poorest. I don’t think it’s right that, in places people rely on every day, like bus stops and train stations, we normalise products that we know are causing harm.
“By using the assets we control, we’re sending a clear signal about the kind of city region we want to be: one that puts people before profit, backs healthier choices and is serious about tackling the deep health inequalities that dramatically limit people’s lives.
“This policy reflects the strength of our partnership with the health sector and a shared commitment to tackling health inequalities head-on. This collaboration will be key to shaping our approach and, ultimately, supporting better health outcomes for our 1.6m residents.”
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed to a phased roll out of restrictions on advertising of unhealthy foods and drinks on CA-owned sites at its meeting on Friday 23 January 2026.