Government council creates guidelines for alcohol and tobacco advertising
In the canton of Zurich, the ban on alcohol and tobacco advertising is repeatedly being violated in many places. The Department of Public Health has therefore developed clearer guidelines. Starting in May 2014, compliance with the regulations will also be monitored through random inspections.
Over the course of the past year, the Zurich Department of Health carried out an investigation into whether the health law that has been in force in the canton since 2008 is being complied with. Even after five years, the advertising restriction is not being complied with everywhere, according to a press release issued on Thursday. For example, billboard advertisements for alcoholic beverages were still found in several publicly accessible locations. The guidelines are now intended to create legal certainty and facilitate compliance with the legal regulations thanks to easily comprehensible criteria, as the health department writes.
The cantonal health law explicitly prohibits "widely perceptible advertising" for alcohol and tobacco on public property and in public buildings. Football pitches and ice hockey stadiums are also covered by this regulation. The cantonal government is now clarifying how these legal provisions are to be understood. Any advertising for addictive substances that can be seen from a distance of ten meters or more is prohibited.
Advertising for non-alcoholic beer
Questions regarding jersey advertising at sporting events are also clarified. Accordingly, an advertising space of 100 square centimetres may be printed on the athletes' clothing. Another problem is so-called deceptive advertising. According to the Department of Health, this is particularly evident in advertising for alcohol-free beer from brands under which alcoholic beer is also sold. In these cases, it must be clear that the non-alcoholic drink is being advertised. Municipalities and sports clubs have an important role to play in complying with the applicable legal requirements, writes the Health Directorate. They have been urged to do their part to improve the situation. From May, random checks will be carried out to verify compliance with the guidelines. (SDA)
