Council of States favors absolute ban on advertising alcoholic beverages
The Council of States insists on a general ban on advertising for alcoholic beverages in the electronic media. On Wednesday, it voted 21 to 19 against the National Council, which wants to allow advertising for beer and wine for all radio and TV broadcasters.
The Council of States insists on a general ban on advertising for alcoholic beverages in the electronic media. On Wednesday, it voted 21 to 19 against the National Council, which wants to allow advertising for beer and wine for all radio and TV broadcasters.
The background to the controversy is Switzerland's participation in the EU's Media film funding program. The agreement and Switzerland's contribution of CHF 41 million with annual tranches of around CHF 10 million until
2013 was approved by both councils. The obligation linked to the agreement to apply the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive, which conflicts with the advertising bans in the new Radio and Television Act (RTVA), is causing problems. The Federal Council has worked out a compromise with the EU on behalf of Parliament. Thanks to this agreement, the ban on religious and political advertising as well as advertising for spirits and mixed drinks such as alcopops can be maintained. The situation is different for advertising for beer and wine. This is already permitted for local TV broadcasters under the RTVA.
EU ban in sight
The Council of States has now stuck to its radical solution that all advertising for alcoholic beverages in SRG TV programs, private TV programs and foreign advertising windows in Swiss media is prohibited. The decision is motivated by the idea of prevention and the protection of minors. As committee spokesman Peter Bieri (CVP/ZG) explained, neighboring countries France, Italy and Austria prohibit alcohol advertising. It was only a matter of time before the EU imposed a general ban, as called for by the World Health Organization (WHO). Filippo Lombardi (CVP/TI) and This Jenny (SVP/GL) warned against scoring an own goal. The Swiss advertising ban would not help and would rob domestic event organizers of a source of income. Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin could go down in history if he were to impose a Europe-wide advertising ban.
Beer too cheap
The Minister of Health pointed out that this was only a German-Swiss problem, as there were no French or Italian advertising windows for alcoholic beverages in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. The excessive consumption of beer by young people was not an advertising problem but a price problem.
The National Council had rejected the idea of banning advertising for alcoholic beverages altogether by 91 votes to 78. In the overall vote, the RTVA revision only passed the large chamber by 92 votes to 30 with 43 abstentions. The process of settling differences continues.
The background to the controversy is Switzerland's participation in the EU's Media film funding program. The agreement and Switzerland's contribution of CHF 41 million with annual tranches of around CHF 10 million until
2013 was approved by both councils. The obligation linked to the agreement to apply the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive, which conflicts with the advertising bans in the new Radio and Television Act (RTVA), is causing problems. The Federal Council has worked out a compromise with the EU on behalf of Parliament. Thanks to this agreement, the ban on religious and political advertising as well as advertising for spirits and mixed drinks such as alcopops can be maintained. The situation is different for advertising for beer and wine. This is already permitted for local TV broadcasters under the RTVA.
EU ban in sight
The Council of States has now stuck to its radical solution that all advertising for alcoholic beverages in SRG TV programs, private TV programs and foreign advertising windows in Swiss media is prohibited. The decision is motivated by the idea of prevention and the protection of minors. As committee spokesman Peter Bieri (CVP/ZG) explained, neighboring countries France, Italy and Austria prohibit alcohol advertising. It was only a matter of time before the EU imposed a general ban, as called for by the World Health Organization (WHO). Filippo Lombardi (CVP/TI) and This Jenny (SVP/GL) warned against scoring an own goal. The Swiss advertising ban would not help and would rob domestic event organizers of a source of income. Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin could go down in history if he were to impose a Europe-wide advertising ban.
Beer too cheap
The Minister of Health pointed out that this was only a German-Swiss problem, as there were no French or Italian advertising windows for alcoholic beverages in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. The excessive consumption of beer by young people was not an advertising problem but a price problem.
The National Council had rejected the idea of banning advertising for alcoholic beverages altogether by 91 votes to 78. In the overall vote, the RTVA revision only passed the large chamber by 92 votes to 30 with 43 abstentions. The process of settling differences continues.
