Snack ads more frequently aired this year to lure children into buying snacks

Psychologist also pointed out that the influence such free-handouts incentive made to children was turning them unto materialistic persons, while National Broadcast Commission would hold a meeting today (August 15) to decide if they would impose control over the children snack ads or not.

At a seminar in Bangkok's Asia Hotel, Wanna Sriwiriyanuparp from CU Consumer Protection Plan said a study found snack ads were aired in highest amount and frequency during children cartoon programmes on two television channels from 8am to 10am on Saturday July 28.

A cartoon at one channel was aired at a total of 32.1 minutes but gave 11.7 minutes to ads shown at an average of 40 times per hour, Wanna said.

While the other channel allocated airing time at 18.9 minutes per hour for each cartoon but shown the ads at more frequency at about 58 times per hour, she said.

Compared to last year's airing of children snack' ads at 42 times per hour, this year's average airing time rose to 49 per hour, Wanna said. The tactics also changed from the year 2005 with not many gifts attached to snacks, to last year with more gifts - such as cards - handing out, and this year's inclusion of lucky draws via telephone service 1900 xxxxx (which charged caller at Bt6 per minute).

Secretary General of National Economic and Social Advisory Council, Gothom Areeya, insisted this issue was a national problem thus rules must be set to control ads for children.

The Nation