Australia recently implemented “plain packaging” laws that drastically alter and regulate cigarette packaging. Similar motions have been raised — and denied — in the United States, while countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom have expressed interest in the legislation. Ream more »
The country’s leading children’s rights group is threatening to sue the government unless it issues a regulation banning all tobacco advertising, which it blames for the large number of child smokers in the country.
Arist Merdeka Sirait, the chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak), said on Saturday that the paperwork for the lawsuit was being drawn up and the suit could be filed by the end of this month. Ream more »
Cigarette advertising came back to the magazine business with a vengeance in Q1 2012, up 11 percent to 160 pages, according to MagazineRadar.
The rest of the magazine ad business is in decline. Tobacco advertising has been down in recent years as stricter regulations prevented most companies from promoting their product. But a complete ban on tobacco promotion is not permitted by the First Amendment, according to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ream more »
Poor black youths targeted by tobacco ads: U-T San Diego reports that tobacco marketing is targeting California’s low-income and African-American youths, according to researchers who examined advertising throughout the state. Academic researchers funded by the state’s Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program found that there was greater visibility of menthol-cigarette advertising at retailers near high schools where there are larger African-American student populations.
Ream more »
Health-related elements of the United States government are hoping to make a dent in tobacco sales, and have the advantage of their choice of advertising venues on which to make their case, including radio and television. But when it comes to comparing bankrolls, they are at a serious disadvantage. Ream more »
At Mitchell Guidance Center Wednesday afternoon, teenage girls flipped through magazines and chatted about the latest trends and Kardashian gossip.
Little did they know, among the fashion and celebrity news, lurked advertisements that would seek to make them lifelong captives of cigarettes.
“You guys as young girls are targets for big tobacco,” Lisa Griffin, an intervention specialist at Mid-Coast Family Services, told the group of about 10 girls.
Ream more »
Six months after Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s announcement of a push for a smoke-free capital, neither the Jakarta administration nor the City Council appear ready to introduce a bylaw to ban cigarette advertisements in the capital.
Administration secretary Fadjar Panjaitan said recently the city was still in the preliminary stage of drafting of the cigarette ban.
“It is still under discussion. We have not set a deadline for the completion of the draft,” Fadjar told The Jakarta Post in recent interview. Ream more »
The Tobacco Control Cell has sent an explanation notice to a tobacco giant for getting published advertisements in national dailies and magazines in violation of anti-tobacco rules.
The letter bearing signature of Director General, Tobacco Control Cell, Dr Assad Hafeez directed the Philip Morris International Pakistan to submit a written reply in seven day of the receipt of this letter under the relevant law, says a press statement on Saturday. Ream more »
The nation’s three biggest tobacco companies are taking aim at part of a new Worcester antismoking ordinance that would dramatically limit advertising of tobacco products.
The citywide ban would prohibit any signs visible from the street that entice buyers to purchase specific cigarette brands like Marlboro or Camel, or tobacco products. Retailers would be allowed to advertise only that they sell cigarettes in general.
Ream more »
Up to 50 years ago smoking was generally considered as an acceptable habit. Governments even issued free cigarettes to soldiers and the tobacco industry’s advertising often linked tobacco use with glamour, sex appeal and energy. Then, in 1964, the US Surgeon General issued a report based on 7,000 scientific studies linking smoking with lung cancer, emphysema and other diseases. Since then, public scrutiny of the tobacco industry has become relentless. Ream more »