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  • Switzerland Continues Tobacco Advertising Debate

    Switzerland Continues Tobacco Advertising Debate

    In 2022, the Swiss people voted to ban “all forms of tobacco advertising accessible to children,” and today the government is closing in on the details of what exactly that entails as it pertains to print media, events, and sponsorships. The Senate called for relaxations of the original law, which the House agreed to and expanded, sending it back to the Senate for its approval.

    The House decided that advertising would be banned in the print media unless it is in an inside section of a publication that is sold mainly through subscription and has a readership of at least 98% adults. It also decided advertising would be permitted for events and sponsorships providing that the materials are neither visible nor accessible to minors.

    Lawmakers also decided to allow tobacco sales by mobile vendors in places accessible to the public that may be frequented by minors, provided that it is guaranteed that the advertising is neither visible nor accessible to minors. The Senate did not consider it necessary to restrict this activity.

  • Congress to Close E-Cigarette Ad Loophole

    Congress to Close E-Cigarette Ad Loophole

    Image: higyou | Adobe Stock

    The U.S. Congress wants to end a legislative provision that allows manufacturers to claim federal tax deductions for the cost of advertising for e-cigarettes and tobacco products. That includes the ads they buy on the radio.

    Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal have reintroduced the No Tax Subsidies for E-Cigarette and Tobacco Ads Act (S. 464), which if passed would not make the direct-to-consumer ads illegal but would end the ability for companies to take tax deductions for advertising expenses related to vaping and other tobacco products, according to Insider Radio.

    “Tax breaks for tobacco and e-cigarette giants allow the industry to profit from its manipulative marketing,” Blumenthal said. “Our legislation ends these write-offs to protect kids and other consumers from being lured into lifetimes of addiction.”

    Radio and television advertising for traditional tobacco products has been banned under federal law since January 1971, and certain other forms of tobacco advertising are restricted under the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. However, none of these restrictions apply to e-cigarettes. 

  • Scotland May Consider Display Ban for Vapes

    Scotland May Consider Display Ban for Vapes

    Credit: Paolo Giovanni

    A lawmaker in Scotland wants to ban the public display of e-cigarettes in retail shops. Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay wants retailers to treat them in the same way as cigarettes and hide them from view.

    “This is beyond the days of smoking behind the bike sheds—this is a multi-million industry leading the nation’s health down a path to disaster,” Mackay said. “It is a ticking time bomb, and, until we know more, that’s not a risk I or anyone else should be asked to accept.”

    She has written to shops and vape manufacturers ahead of taking her campaign to the Scottish Parliament, according to the Daily Record.

    Mackay, the Green Party’s health spokesman, said there is growing concern that the number of underage people being attracted by “deliberately sweet-toothed tactics” to market products is spiraling.

    She is calling on retailers to lead by example by writing to them urging that they hide the products from view.

  • Push to Close Tobacco Advertising ‘Loophole’

    Push to Close Tobacco Advertising ‘Loophole’

    Image: RomanR | Adobe Stock

    U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal reintroduced the No Tax Subsidies for E-Cigarette and Tobacco Ads Act, which would end a tax provision that allows manufacturers to claim federal tax deductions for the cost of advertising for e-cigarettes and tobacco products, according to Shaheen’s website. Senators Brown, Reed, Durbin, Van Hollen and Merkley also joined in reintroducing the bill.

    “E-cigarettes are fueling a public health crisis—particularly among teenagers. E-cigarette and Big Tobacco companies must be held responsible for deliberately advertising these dangerous products to youth,” said Shaheen. “It’s outrageous that a tax loophole allows companies to write off the costs of their ads, having taxpayers foot the bill and subsidize the advertising of harmful products. That’s why I’m reintroducing legislation to close this loophole and hold e-cigarette companies accountable for their harmful marketing practices.”

    “Old regulatory loopholes are helping Big Tobacco addict more Americans to lethal products,” said Blumenthal. “This bill will close a gaping tax loophole, putting an end to Big Tobacco’s tax write-offs of dangerous ads and preventing young people from starting up a deadly addiction.”

    The bill also bars tax deductions for advertising expenses related to tobacco cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco.