Tobacco advertisements have been popping up left and right in recent years in Switzerland, especially the ones in regards to heat-not-burn devices that tobacco companies designed as a means for a « safer » alternative to smokers.

They are usually placed on the side of the streets or at train stations for all demographics to see.

I feel it is irresponsible that advertising companies are still allowing publication of these products, knowing that they are there for everybody to see, children included.

What’s your opinion on this? Do you think banning these advertisements would change anything?

by 0rdin

6 comments

  1. I think tobacco and alcohol products should be allowed to advertise anywhere and target anyone within the legal limits.

    We are free people and should be able to make our own decisions (though I would agree that health insurances should be able to ask you if your smoke or drink and adjust the premiums accordingly).

  2. I think we should ban advertisement on alcohol and tobacco products. It‘s ethically questionable to advertise such products and they cause a lot of harm.

  3. I’m for banning ads for harmful products everywhere. Most of the people we see having serious issues with stopping smoking started before their 20ies, and we should increase efforts to stop that. I also think taxes from alcohol, tobacco, etc. should be increased even more, and 100% go to the health care tariffs.

  4. Saw the same ad, I think it was in 20min? Had to do a double take, the quote looks ridiculous with the warnings next to it.

    I have no sympathy for the tobacco industry, should be banned entirely with a rising age limit as far as I care. “But what about the money!”, they say, won’t someone think of the economy? Well, the hospitals are full of people slowly dying of various smoking-related diseases, that costs us all a pretty penny too. 

    But instead, our parliament is ignoring even the vote against advertising to children. 

  5. As a smoker, I find them rather ineffective.

    I already have my favorite brand, and it’s not because of advertisements that I got it, but because of pop culture in the first place.

    Those things are not going to make me change my unhealthy habit towards another one.

    And for the kids, I believe they think smoking is not that cool, it’s inconvenient. A vape is much more convenient and it comes in with a huge diversity of flavors for example.

    I think that those products where you can add a tasty flavor to what’s an acquired taste in the first place, are actually way more dangerous than this advertisement.

    And for us already smoking, we know what we want already.

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