St. Gallen wants to ban tobacco advertising on public property

On Thursday, the St. Gallen government presented a dispatch to parliament that provides for a ban on tobacco advertising on public land. In doing so, the government is fulfilling the mandate of the Cantonal Council, which approved the motion "Restriction of tobacco advertising" in 2003. This was intended to create the conditions for a ban on tobacco advertising on public property. Public buildings are also affected, as is private property if the advertising is visible from public property. The government also justified its proposal with health policy requirements. Tobacco advertising not only influences the choice of brand, it also increases overall demand and encourages people to smoke. According to the St. Gallen government, cantonal bans or restrictions on tobacco advertising on public property do not violate federal law, the SDA press release states. The Federal Supreme Court had already ruled this in 2002 in the case of the canton of Geneva. According to the press release from the St. Gallen State Chancellery, advertising restrictions already exist in the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Zug and Graubünden. Initiatives are pending in 13 other cantons.