Thurgau advertising ban on alcohol and tobacco is definitive

The Thurgau cantonal parliament is getting serious about the cantonal advertising restrictions. It is banning billboard advertising for alcoholic beverages with more than 15% alcohol by volume, for alcopops and tobacco products. The measure includes a piece of homeland security: by restricting the advertising ban to alcoholic beverages with more than 15 percent by volume, local winegrowers and brewers are to be protected from a loss of sales.The Grand Council also stipulated on Wednesday that tobacco products may not be sold to under-16s. Vending machine operators have until December 31, 2009 to convert their machines so that young people can no longer buy tobacco products there. Violations of the law can be punished with fines of up to CHF 20,000. The law was passed by a clear 54 votes to 41. This means that it will not be put to a referendum.