Local councils are working to influence the commercial determinants of health

Many people feel unable to influence the commercial determinants of health,1 but public health based in local councils is starting to pull the available levers—limiting hot food takeaways, creating smoke-free places, local advertisement and sponsorship policies, alcohol licensing, combating industry sponsored educational material, regulating vending and branding in community venues, to name a few.Communicating the message about the commercial determinants of health is also important. We can work across council departments, such as planning and commercial services, as well as with politicians and elected members to influence decision making. A few local level policies may seem futile, but implementing a policy that is shrewd about the commercial determinants of health can be the catalyst for others—for example, Transport for London’s ban on advertising junk food and the wave of local authorities now following suit.2We can also expose industry tactics, interference, and “dark nudges and sludge”3 to the public. This can…
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