EU: Commission Redoubles Pressure

The European Commission has said that it will renew attempts to introduce a European Union-wide ban on tobacco advertising, following the new UK Labour government’s announcement to propose a national ad ban. This indicates a new and determined commitment compared to November 1996, when EU health ministers shelved efforts to prohibit tobacco advertising in the face of resistance from some member countries, opting instead for a resolution urging governments to continue co-ordinated anti-smoking efforts.

Health ministers in the EU are likely to resurrect the attempt to introduce an EU-wide ban when they meet in Luxembourg in December 1997. Among the many sports likely to be hit by such a pan-European ban would be Formula 1 motor-racing; it is thought that a number of the traditional Grand Prix racing venues within the EU would depart for the far East and elsewhere in the event of an advertising and sponsorship ban.