Federal Council maintains extensive ban on cigarette advertising
To discourage young people from smoking, the Federal Council plans to ban the sale of cigarettes to minors throughout Switzerland. At the same time, a sweeping advertising ban is intended to reduce the incentives that lead young people to pick up a cigarette.
In its dispatch to Parliament, the Federal Council proposes banning tobacco advertising on posters, in print and online media and in cinemas. However, tobacco companies should still be allowed to advertise their smoking products in kiosks, on vending machines and at festivals of national importance. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Federal Councillor Alain Berset called this an "important step". According to studies, the majority of smokers started smoking before their 20th birthday. And advertising has a particularly strong influence on young people: according to a German study, the risk of young people starting to smoke increases by 46 percent when they are exposed to tobacco advertising.
There is already a ban on tobacco advertising on radio and television. Tobacco advertising explicitly aimed at minors is also prohibited. However, the number of young people who smoke has stagnated or even risen slightly in recent years, according to Health Minister Berset. Further steps are therefore necessary.
Enough leeway for the tobacco industry
The Federal Council's proposals were met with harsh criticism during the consultation process. Health and youth organizations insisted on a total ban on cigarette advertising. The tobacco industry and economic players, on the other hand, opposed the planned advertising bans. Nevertheless, the Federal Council is sticking to its proposals. The bill is "moderate and balanced" and also leaves the tobacco industry sufficient leeway, emphasized Berset. Switzerland is going less far than most European countries with the proposed regulations. Some cantons also currently have stricter rules than the federal government. In 15 cantons, poster advertising for tobacco products is already prohibited. In ten cantons, cigarettes may not be sold to minors, and in a further twelve cantons the age of sale is 16.
E-cigarettes to become legal
The new Tobacco Products Act also ensures that smokers can buy products that are safe, said Berset. He referred to nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, the sale of which is to be permitted in future. E-cigarettes, e-cigars and e-shishas should be subject to the same restrictions on advertising and sales to minors as conventional cigarettes. Anyone who vapes e-cigarettes must also comply with smoking bans.
Commoners against advertising ban
The proposed advertising ban is likely to have a difficult time in parliament. The FDP and SVP spoke out against the preliminary draft of the Tobacco Products Act during the consultation process. Although the BDP and CVP welcomed the protection of minors, they rejected a tightening of the ban on tobacco advertising. In contrast, bans appear to have majority support among the population: 53% are in favor of a general ban on tobacco advertising, according to surveys conducted as part of the Federal Office of Public Health's (FOPH) addiction monitoring. A ban with an exception for sales outlets is even approved by 64 percent. Supporters of the advertising ban are also likely to raise the issue of costs: According to an external study, the new Tobacco Products Act would lead to annual savings of around CHF 400 to 600 million, as Berset said. In particular, health costs and costs for absences from work would decrease if tobacco consumption were to fall. Worldwide, over 5 million people die every year as a result of tobacco consumption. In Switzerland, this figure is around 9500. This makes tobacco consumption the most common preventable cause of death in Switzerland. Tobacco consumption also causes medical treatment costs of CHF 1.2 billion per year. A further 3.8 billion francs are incurred for lost working hours. (SDA)
