Contents
In the future there will be no tobacco advertising or advertising for electronic cigarettes in printed media.
- To protect children and young people, a tobacco advertising ban in printed media is to apply in Switzerland from 2026. That’s what the Federal Council wants. Advertising at points of sale such as kiosks should also be banned from 2026.
- Advertising for smoking on the Internet is also to be banned, but not comprehensively.
- Online advertising should remain permitted if the operators of the websites use an age control system to ensure that minors cannot access websites with tobacco advertising.
The Federal Council wants to protect young people from tobacco consumption. After the popular initiative “Children and young people without tobacco advertising” was adopted, at its meeting on May 24, 2023, it decided to ban the advertising of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in places and in media to which young people have access.
Rules for print and online media
The print media are particularly affected, under certain conditions online advertising and festivals. In the future, no advertising for tobacco products or electronic cigarettes may be placed in the print media. It is also prohibited in public places such as sales outlets and festivals that minors can visit. The corresponding message is sent to Parliament.
Rules for sponsorship of festivals
In addition, sponsorship of events to which minors have access will no longer be possible. Online advertising remains legal provided that an age control system ensures that minors cannot access pages containing such advertising.
Such an age control system will also be introduced for the sale of products via the Internet or vending machines. The tobacco industry must also disclose its advertising expenditure. The companies can jointly disclose the relevant figures to protect business confidentiality.