UK Bans Tobacco Advertising January 24, 2001
News Summary
The British Parliament's House of Commons has approved a measure that would ban tobacco advertising, Reuters reported Jan. 22. The government drafted its own law after the European Court ruled last year that a European Union-wide ban was illegal."The evidence is overwhelming -- smoking kills," said Health Secretary Alan Milburn. "Advertising and promotion of tobacco products places enormous costs on our health service, does enormous harm to the health of our nation."
The Department of Health said a ban on tobacco advertising could lead to a 2.5 percent reduction in the number of smokers and reduce National Health Service costs by up to $58.25 million annually.
The measure passed by a 316-127 margin. Some opposition could come from Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, but the bill is still expected to pass.
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