Why ban the advertising of a legal product?
• There can be little doubt that were tobacco to be discovered today, its production and sale would be illegal. Therefore its legality is a product of history and not a justification for its promotion (9). • There are many precedents where advertising of dangerous or potentially dangerous products is restricted even if these products remain on the market (e.g. firearms, fireworks or pharmaceutical products). According to Council Directive 92/28/EEC it is for instance forbidden to advertise to the general public medicinal products in the European Union which are only available on medical prescription or contain psychotopic or narcotic substances.
