Health Experts Push to Stop Industry-Funded School Materials

A group of top health professionals and organizations has asked UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to stop schools from using learning resources paid for by companies in the alcohol, gambling, and junk food industries. The group says these sponsorships can harm kids’ health and their understanding of risky behaviors.

Health Experts Warn of Misleading School Materials Backed by Alcohol and Gambling Industries

The joint request, signed by 58 public health supporters, including doctors, researchers, and charities, expressed concerns that company-backed teaching materials twist facts and play down the risks linked to alcohol, bad diets, and gambling, reported The Guardian. Schools across the UK now use these materials, which distort scientific proof and shift blame for harm from what companies do to people and even kids.

Critics highlight cases like a classroom program about underage drinking backed by Diageo. They say it does not give the full picture of how alcohol is linked to cancer. In the same way, people have called out resources from Gamble Aware, a charity funded by the betting industry. They are accused of sneaking in gambling mechanics to students while pretending to push “responsible gambling.” Some materials teach kids how to fill out betting slips.

Health experts say these programs look more like ads than real education. Chris van Tulleken, a professor of infectious disease, compares this to letting tobacco companies teach kids about smoking. He thinks having these companies in schools only helps their bottom line by getting kids familiar with brands and starting habits early on.

Experts Urge Stricter School Guidelines to Block Corporate Influence in Classrooms

The group wants the Department for Education to copy what Ireland has done. Ireland has stopped schools from using teaching materials made or paid for by industries that have conflicting interests, such as alcohol producers.

People from the industry have fought back against this criticism. Diageo says its program “Smashed” has helped make young people more aware of the risks of drinking before they are old enough. They point out that teachers like the program and say it talks about many health problems related to alcohol. Starbucks says its school cafés are in sixth forms and are there to give extra services, not to change what students eat and drink.

The Department for Education responded by stressing that schools must make sure all third-party materials are balanced and do not have hidden agendas. The updated guidelines now tell schools to be careful with resources linked to organizations that have a commercial stake in harmful products. Still, the department said that schools could choose their suitable educational tools based on their local situation.

Health experts keep saying that stricter rules are needed to protect the quality of education and stop companies from taking advantage of students.