We’ve Come a Long Way Baby (Or Have we?): Banning Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship in the European Union

Abstract

In October 2000, Europe's highest court struck down a Community directive that effectively banned advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products in the European Union. Regulation of tobacco products has been on the Community's agenda for over a decade, but it was not until l998 that the necessary political support to enact any such legislation became available. The broad scope of the ensuing directive reflected the increasing awareness of the harmful health effects of tobacco, but this remains a controversial topic. The court decision may only be a temporary victory for the tobacco lobby since the Community still is determined to regulate tobacco advertising and sponsorship and has other options available in pursuit of this objective.