Mexico restricts soft drink ads to fight obesity

Mexico said Tuesday it will restrict TV ads for soft drinks, snacks and other high-calorie foods in a bid to tackle rampant obesity. With immediate effect, such ads will be banned from open air and cable TV from 2:30pm to 9:30pm during the week and from 7:00am to 7:30pm at weekends. In total, 40 percent of advertising seen until now each year for soft drinks and other high-calorie products will vanish from Mexican TV, the health ministry said. Mexico is the world's largest consumer per capita of sugary drinks, at 163 liters per year.