National Council chooses a middle course in banning tobacco advertising

The federal law on tobacco products is under a better star than four years ago, when the conservative majority in both chambers of parliament had sent the bill back to the Federal Council. The advertising bans in particular angered the liberal forces in parliament at the time.

Two years ago, the Federal Council proposed a law without advertising bans. It did not want to unnecessarily jeopardize the protection of minors. It has long been virtually undisputed that the sale of tobacco products to minors should be banned.

Initiative in the neck

However, the new law was too toothless for the Council of States. Last fall, it additionally anchored comprehensive advertising bans for tobacco products in the law. The National Council now partially approved these on Tuesday.

There are two main reasons for the change of mood in the National Council: First, the large chamber was reconstituted after the federal elections a year ago. The SVP and FDP, who are still critical of advertising bans, no longer have a majority.

Secondly, Parliament is under pressure. It is discussing the Tobacco Products Act against the backdrop of a pending popular initiative. The initiative calls for a complete ban on tobacco advertising that reaches children or young people. In effect, this would ban cigarette advertising on billboards in public spaces.

No advertising in public space

The majority of the centrist parliamentary group, which often tips the scales on controversial bills, therefore joined the SP, Green and GLP parliamentary groups in the National Council in a debate that lasted more than five hours and called for feasible advertising restrictions.

"If we do not accommodate the initiators on several points, the petition for a referendum will probably have a good chance," Ruth Humbel (CVP/AG) said. Several cantons already had strict regulations regarding tobacco advertising.

The proposals put forward by the Health Committee (SGK-N) were almost universally accepted in the large chamber. In concrete terms, this means that advertising in the press and on the Internet should not be banned in principle. The ban should only apply to press products and Internet sites intended for minors. However, advertising in cinemas and in public spaces is to be largely banned, as is billboard advertising that can be seen from public spaces.

Freedom versus prevention

Both motions for more restrictive bans from the left and for less severe advertising restrictions from the right failed. It was a matter of "finding the famous compromise between effective protection of minors and a proportionate intervention in the free market economy," said Lorenz Hess (BDP/BE), spokesman for the responsible health committee.

It is true that an addiction-free society is an illusion, said Katharina Prelicz-Huber (Grüne/ZH). Nevertheless, everything must be done to prevent young people from smoking with preventive measures. Regine Sauter (FDP/ZH), on the other hand, warned against a disproportionate encroachment on economic freedom. (SDA)