BMP’s Powell calls for full tobacco ad ban
BMP DDB chairman Chris Powell will today (Wednesday) put pressure on the Government to ban tobacco advertising.
In a speech to MPs in the Houses of Parliament, Powell will tell a cross-party group of MPs, including former health secretary Frank Dobson and chairman of the health select committee Chris Hinchliffe, that tobacco advertising legitimises smoking in the eyes of addicts.
He tells Marketing Week: “There is a requirement for the Government to act. Any sign that it is not serious about the risks of tobacco lets smokers off the hook; tells them it’s not much of a risk.” Powell will argue that no advertising channel should be exempted from an advertising ban, particularly direct marketing, as it will be exploited by the industry.
He also believes exempting brand stretching would allow tobacco companies to promote their cigarette brands indirectly.
He adds: “It’s difficult to argue that a ban on tobacco advertising conflicts with commercial freedom. If tobacco was invented now, you would never be able to market it.”
Powell has a reputation for involving himself in the politics of advertising. Last week, Powell chaired the sixth annual conference of the Food Advertising Unit, which pledged to work with groups campaigning to curb the promotion of food to children.
