Tobacco advertising under fire in the canton of Bern
Since January 1, 2007, a law has been in effect in the Canton of Bern prohibiting tobacco advertising on public property and on private property visible from public property. Now, a member of the Thun Cantonal Council and the commercial police of the municipality of Köniz have filed criminal complaints regarding tobacco advertising at or on SBB train stations.
Since January 1, 2007, the law in the canton of Berne has prohibited tobacco advertising on public property and on private property that can be seen from such property. Now a Thun councillor and the commercial police of the municipality of Köniz have filed criminal charges for tobacco advertising at or on SBB railroad stations, as Thun SP councillor Patric Bhend wrote in a press release. He filed his complaint because there are currently posters advertising smoking products outside Thun station. SBB has so far taken the stance that they are fundamentally subject to national law, not cantonal law.
The Bernese Office of Economic Affairs Beco is also putting pressure on SBB and the poster companies. It is of the opinion that tobacco advertising on station squares, as in Thun, is "clearly inadmissible", as management member Stefan Reichen told SDA on request. Beco has informed SBB and the poster companies of this by letter.
SBB has now responded to the pressure. Regardless of Beco's intervention and the criminal charges, the company is considering voluntarily adapting its tobacco advertising practices to communal and cantonal regulations, SBB announced on Friday.
Stricter regulations in the canton of AargauThere is also a lot happening in this area in the canton of Aargau. The Aargau cantonal council wants to significantly strengthen alcohol and tobacco prevention. With a new law, the government plans to ban large-scale advertising for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. This includes billboard, cinema and perimeter advertising. Company names at the place of business or production are exempt from this.
The law also stipulates that municipalities can order test purchases by young people. Adults who buy alcohol and pass it on to minors will be liable to prosecution in future. It is still unclear how passive smoking protection should be regulated. Two options are under discussion: a general ban on smoking in all enclosed spaces that are open to the public and exceptions for restaurants and bars.
The Bernese Office of Economic Affairs Beco is also putting pressure on SBB and the poster companies. It is of the opinion that tobacco advertising on station squares, as in Thun, is "clearly inadmissible", as management member Stefan Reichen told SDA on request. Beco has informed SBB and the poster companies of this by letter.
SBB has now responded to the pressure. Regardless of Beco's intervention and the criminal charges, the company is considering voluntarily adapting its tobacco advertising practices to communal and cantonal regulations, SBB announced on Friday.
Stricter regulations in the canton of AargauThere is also a lot happening in this area in the canton of Aargau. The Aargau cantonal council wants to significantly strengthen alcohol and tobacco prevention. With a new law, the government plans to ban large-scale advertising for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. This includes billboard, cinema and perimeter advertising. Company names at the place of business or production are exempt from this.
The law also stipulates that municipalities can order test purchases by young people. Adults who buy alcohol and pass it on to minors will be liable to prosecution in future. It is still unclear how passive smoking protection should be regulated. Two options are under discussion: a general ban on smoking in all enclosed spaces that are open to the public and exceptions for restaurants and bars.
