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German upper house passes ban on cigarette advertising

December 15, 2006
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Berlin (dpa) - Legislation banning cigarette advertising in newspapers, magazines and on the internet was passed by the upper house of Germany's federal parliament Friday, the same week as Berlin failed in a court challenge against EU powers to do the same thing.

Germans have been debating this month whether to imitate tough anti-smoking policies in neighbouring nations where smoking is banned in bars and most advertising is outlawed. State premiers say they will draft a no-smoking policy for restaurants by next March.

Friday's upper-house adoption of the partial advertising ban follows a similar vote in the lower house last month and means no more obstacles remain to the legislation.

Billboard advertising and lengthy commercials in cinemas will continue to promote smoking. The advertising industry says it will also step up cigarette advertising in give-away newspapers and with "free gifts."

Pressed by the industry, the government challenged in principle whether the European Union had power to impose guidelines, but lost its case before the European Court on Tuesday.

Berlin had said earlier it would apply the ban, but did not believe the EU could mandate its nations to pass such legislation. // © 2006 DPA

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