Cigarette advertising stubbed out, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 21 Dec 2004 - 15:00 PDT

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The Government has introduced strict new limits on the advertising of cigarettes and tobacco products in shops, pubs and clubs today.

The new measures restrict the total advertising for all tobacco companies to no more than the size of a paperback book and any ads will have to include a health warning occupying 30 per cent of the area.

The new regulations are part of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act and are amongst the strictest in the world. They will be enforced by Trading Standards officers and violations will result in fines of up to £5,000 or five months in prison.

Launching the new look tobacco counter at an Asda store in London, health secretary John Reid said: "These new regulations will mean that people will no longer be bombarded by the large, colourful tobacco advertising at their local supermarket of corner shop.

"The advertising will be rightly confined to a small area and only on the place where the tobacco is displayed.

"This is one element of our plans to help people stop smoking and reduce the numbers of people who take up the habit."

Welcoming the introduction of the new regulations, Jean King, Director of Tobacco Control at Cancer Research UK, said: "Point of sale has been an opportunity for tobacco companies to promote their deadly products and we are pleased that this loophole has now been closed.

"We fully support a ban on all tobacco advertising and promotion because research shows it saves lives."

In October, the Department of Health won a legal battle against tobacco manufacturers to introduce the new regulations.
http://www.hda-online.org.uk/html/about/phnews.asp?ItemID=7377010

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