SWITZERLAND
A new people’s initiative calling for a ban on all tobacco advertising that targets children and young adults was launched this March.
Campaigners, who say the initiative responds to parliament’s previous refusal to pass a law on tobacco advertisement and “watered down” proposals from the government, now have 17 months to collect the necessary minimum 100,000 signatures to force a nationwide vote.
The initiative, “Yes to Protecting Children and Young people from Tobacco Advertising” was launched by an alliance called “Healthy Switzerland” and is supported by a large number of public health associations such as the Swiss Cancer League, The Swiss Lung League, and PharmaSuisse.
The Swiss government’s new proposals include a national ban on selling tobacco products to minors. However, this is already in effect in the majority of Swiss cantons. The initiative aims to go further by banning tobacco advertisements on the internet as well as in free newspapers. It also plans to ban strategic tobacco product placements targeted at young people, such as selling cigarettes next to candy.