Tighter Rules On Tobacco Ads

In order to head off a private member’s bill whcih is totally opposed to tobacco advertising, the government is expected to announce tighter voluntary controls on tobacco advertising.

The bill, from Kevin Barron, Labour MP for Rother Valley, would ban all cigar, cigarette and pipe tobacco advertising except at point of sale; the government is opposed to a total ban.

The tighter voluntary controls likely to be introduced by the Department of Health are:

• A ban on poster advertising
• An end to tobacco advertising in women’s magazines
• Removal of tobacconists’ shop front advertising
• Larger health warnings on cigarette packs.

The AA has accused the government of over-reacting.