Tobacco Ad Restrictions

The health department is expected to announce soon that voluntary controls on tobacco advertising are to be tightened following discussions with the industry.

The controls are believed to include a ban on poster advertising, tight controls on advertising in women’s magazines, an end to shop front advertising and bigger health warnings on packets.

Angry magazine publishers have called for an urgent meeting with Health Minister Virginia Bottomley. Peter Dear deputy chief executive of the PPA, confirmed the PPA position, “We would certainly oppose any further constraints upon tobacco advertising in women’s magazines. Such a move would surely cause offense to women, implying as it does that neither reader nor editor are capable of making an individual and reasoned decision on whether or not to smoke the advertised brand”. Publishers argue that editors should be allowed to choose whether ads are appropriate to their audience.

The PPA is lobbying against the Barron Bill which is due for its second reading on February 11, and has written to MPs asking for their support.

PPA 071 379 6268