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07 Dec 2005 Wed 08:39 pm |
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Quoting Boop: It isn't strange why the English Government allows advertising and manufacture of cigarettes - they get a huge amount of revenue from it. |
I agree with you on the revenue front. The British Government makes billions of pounds per year from the tax revenue on tobacco. They make a lot more from the revenue, than the cost to the NHS of smoking related diseases. Also, let's face it, the British Government will not be too keen on an outright ban on smoking - after all, a paternalistic Government is not necessarily a popular one...
But as for the advertising... Now without wanting to sound too lawyerly...! It isn't allowed in the UK. Tobacco advertising is actually banned in the UK. Television adverts of tobacco products were banned in the UK in 1965 under the Television Act 1964. (This was reinforced by an EU directive in the 80’s). Then, in 2003, the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 banned direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products and also promotions. Under this Act it meant that tobacco advertising on billboards and in newspapers/magazines was banned from February 2003. Sponsorship of sports events by tobacco companies began to be phased out from 2003. Formula 1 racing is an exception, but sponsorship by tobacco companies here will only be allowed until next year. However, whether advertising does or does not have an influence on consumption seems to be unresolved....
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The thing is as long as the revenue tax raised from tobacco pays the NHS costs of smoking related diseases.. the government won't care. They make too much money out of smokers. It's some ridiculous figure like the tobacco industry makes the British Government about £10 billion per year, but the cost of smoking related diseases costs £1.5 billion (a lot less!). As for the strain the NHS is under though - I couldn't agree more!
