No committee calls tobacco advertising ban initiative extreme

According to the committee, the initiative "Yes to protecting children and adolescents from tobacco advertising" wants to ban any kind of advertising for tobacco products that can reach children and adolescents. Since there are hardly any places where young people are not present, and hardly any media that cannot also be viewed by young people, the initiative would in practice lead to a complete ban on advertising, the opponents of the initiative argue.

Encroachment on economic freedom

"This is a disproportionate encroachment on the constitutionally guaranteed economic freedom and freedom of information," said National Councilor Philipp Kutter (center/ZH) and President of the Swiss Fair Trading Commission, on Thursday at the media conference of the non-partisan Committee Against Advertising Bans. It is part of the fundamental economic and commercial freedom that legal products can be advertised.

"Advertising is a non-negligible source of income for the media, the cultural sector, festivals, small stores, kiosks or gas station stores," noted National Councilor Damien Cottier (FDP/NE). There are 11,000 direct and indirect jobs involved, which generate an added value of more than 6 billion Swiss francs per year.

National Councilor Mike Egger (SVP/SG) told the media that adults are responsible for their own health and should also decide for themselves which legal stimulants they consume.

Indirect counterproposal

The Federal Council and Parliament also reject the initiative and oppose it with an indirect counter-proposal. According to this proposal, advertising for tobacco products and e-cigarettes will be banned nationwide on billboards and in movie theaters. Sponsorship of international events is also no longer possible. No smoking products may be sold to minors.

The No Committee supports the Tobacco Products Act. "The new Tobacco Products Act goes far without exaggerating the paternalism of the state," said National Councilor Rocco Cattaneo FDP/TI. It succeeds in striking a balance between effective protection of minors and the protection of economic interests.

Proponents of the initiative, argue tobacco advertising tempts children and teens to smoke (Werbewoche.ch reported). They point to the approximately 9500 or 14 percent of deaths in Switzerland each year that are attributable to tobacco consumption.

The proponents also criticize that the new Tobacco Products Act allows advertising that reaches children and young people. The SP, the Greens, the EPP and the EDU are represented in the initiative committee. The GLP supported the initiative in parliament by a majority. (SDA)