The fight against a looming Europe-wide ban on tobacco advertising is
being carried to the European Commission’s doorstep in Brussels.
Lawyers, advertisers and agency figures are expected to come together
for a symposium in the city next summer as the proposed ban threatens to
become a cause celbre in the battle to retain freedom of commercial
speech.
The plan for the symposium - to be held under the auspices of the
European Association of Advertising Agencies - was drawn up by lawyers
advising the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising and its
equivalent organisations across Europe at a meeting in Amsterdam last
week.
The lawyers, who are already planning to go to the European courts to
thwart the ban (Campaign, 20 October), say that unless the line on
tobacco advertising is held, other product sectors will also be under
threat from EU legislators.
Philip Circus, the IPA’s legal affairs director, said: ‘It’s wrong to
believe that you can put a cordon around tobacco advertising and treat
it differently from other advertising.’
The aim of the symposium is to ensure EU officials understand the
implications of advertising curbs and to pressure them to seek a
compromise on tobacco promotion rather than have to defend a ban in the
courts.
‘The EU is wrong if it thinks that a ban would end its troubles,’ Circus
said. ‘It would just be the start of them.’
Meanwhile, Circus is discussing the latest moves with tobacco
manufacturers and enlisting their support. The companies are understood
to be nervous about giving their wholehearted backing to a legal
challenge. They are anxious not to give the impression that they fear an
imminent collapse of the alliance of countries - including Britain -
which is blocking the ban.
Some executives believe the alliance could be shored up through the
possible support of Spain and Sweden. They believe this could ensure its
survival even if a Labour government committed to a tobacco ad ban is
elected.
