BMP DDB Chairman Calls For Tobacco Ad Ban

BMP DDB chairman Chris Powell has today called on the Government to ban all tobacco advertising saying that it is bringing the industry into disrepute.

In a speech to MPs and peers at the All Party Parliamentary Group on smoking in the Houses of Parliament today, Powell was expected to say that tobacco advertising legitimises smoking in the eyes of addicts and should be banned. He contends: “Its difficult to argue that a ban on tobacco advertising conflicts with commercial freedom. If tobacco was invented now, you would never be able to market it.”

Powell argument is that no form of marketing should be exempt from an advertising ban, particularly direct marketing, which would be exploited by advertisers. He was also expected to speak of the need to ban any promotion of brand names associated with tobacco because it is “the only product where consumption can actually damage your health.”

His speech comes days before the House of Lords is due to hear a private members’ bill banning tobacco ads. If the bill is approved by the House of Lords it will go back to the Commons to be cleared early next year.

An EU ban on tobacco advertising, which would have come into effect this month, was ruled unlawful by the European Court of Justice last year following appeals from the tobacco industry (see European Court Overturns Ban On Tobacco Advertising).

BMP DDB: 0207 258 3979 www.bmp.co.uk

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