Let's avoid the demographic cliff.
PETITION: Restricting Neuromarketing to Prevent a European Demographic Crisis and Increase Birth Rates
To: Committee on Petitions, European Parliament (PETI) Subject: Proposal to ban retail neuromarketing techniques at EU level to curb infertility and obesity resulting from overconsumption
1. Recognition of the Demographic Priority
I, the undersigned EU citizen, express my appreciation for the efforts of the European Union and its Member States to make increasing birth rates and supporting family formation strategic priorities. I agree that the future of the European Union depends on younger generations, and that rapid population aging poses an existential threat that must be addressed with every available means.
2. The Problem: The Hidden Link Between Neuromarketing and Demography
I wish to draw the Committee's attention to the fact that unregulated neuromarketing fundamentally undermines the successes of EU family policy. Psychological manipulation used by retail chains (for example, oversized shopping carts, deliberately maze‑like customer routes, aggressive neon packaging) generates artificial overconsumption that damages European demography through two direct pathways:
A. Environmental pollution and health deterioration A large share of impulse purchases driven by neuromarketing is unnecessary: much of the bought food and goods end up as waste. This excessive waste production causes serious environmental pollution, and harmful substances released into the environment (e.g., microplastics, endocrine‑disrupting chemicals) have been shown to damage human reproductive systems, reducing fertility.
B. The obesity epidemic and infertility Another consequence of artificially generated overconsumption is the dramatic rise in obesity observed across the EU. Overweight and obesity are not merely cosmetic issues; they are a major cause of population decline:
Difficulties in forming partnerships — Self‑esteem problems and social isolation resulting from obesity make finding a partner harder, and without a partnership the possibility of having children may not arise.
Biological barriers — It is scientifically established that overweight and obesity drastically impair reproductive capacity in both women and men (hormonal disturbances, reduced sperm counts).
High‑risk pregnancies — If conception occurs, overweight pregnant women face orders of magnitude higher risks of spontaneous miscarriage and pregnancy complications.
3. Contradiction in European Policy
I consider it hypocritical that billions are spent on family policy incentives while the retail lobby is allowed to systematically worsen public health and reproductive prospects through neuromarketing tools. Profits derived from overconsumption must not take precedence over the survival of European nations.
4. Demands
I ask the European Parliament to:
Ban neuromarketing techniques that subconsciously coerce EU citizens into overbuying.
Regulate the size of shopping equipment and store layouts to promote rational purchasing.
Recognize overconsumption as an indirect driver of the demographic crisis and tighten consumer protection rules accordingly.
Summary
Restricting neuromarketing is not only an economic issue but a fundamental condition for the birth of future generations. Less unnecessary consumption equals a healthier society better able to form families and have children.
Respectfully, Zoltán Bíró
Supporters can sign the petition after it has been officially accepted by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions.
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