Tobacco Advertising
This page charts the high and low points of the campaign to ban tobacco advertising. It including submissions and links to European and UK consultations on tobacco advertising.
The history of the campaign to ban tobacco advertising in the UK
Overview and timetable for implementing the ban on tobacco advertising
The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act came into force on 14 Feb 2003, banning most forms of direct advertising from the outset. Other forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship were phased out over the following two years.
ASH briefing: The UK ban on tobacco advertising
ASH briefing on the UK ban on the tobacco advertising and sponsorship ban. Information regarding the implementation timetable. This ASH document provided evidence and arguments to support the passage of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotions Act. Evidence of the impact of tobacco advertising on health and responses to common distracting arguments used by the tobacco industry. This document was used to brief MPs during the passage of the recent UK Tobacco Advertising and Promotion.
Examples of point of sale adverts before and after the ban
The new regulations state that tobacco advertising at the point of sale is to be limited to one A5 size ad. Here are examples of tobacco advertising before and after the new regulations came into force.
Latest Archived Items - access the rest of the archive here
Advertising Standards Authority - Cigarette Code (External Web Page)
The ASA monitors and sometimes enforces a voluntary code on tobacco advertising. This code is embedded in a larger voluntary agreement which covers many aspects of tobacco promotion. This will all be replaced by the EU advertising ban when it comes into effect. 14 Feb 2003
Consultation on Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act regulations (External Web Page)
The Act deals with detail in regulations (secondary legislation) in three areas: sponsorship phase-out; point-of-sale promotion; and brandsharing. This consultation is the government's proposed measures.
ASH response: Consultation on the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Regulation
ASH response highlighting numerous weaknesses and potential loopholes in tobacco advertising and promotion regulation
