Cigarette advts supported

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 12

Cigarette advts supported

The executive director of the Tobacco Institute of New Zealand, Mr Michael Thompson, says he is amazed at a suggestion by the Consumers’ Institute that tobacco advertisements are in breach of the Toxic Substances Act.

The suggestion was made by the director of the Consumers’ Institute, Mr Dick Smithies.

“Legal opinion we sought when the anti-smoking lobby group, A.S.H., made similar allegations some time ago is clearly at odds with Mr Smithies’ assumption. Also the act is specifically limited in its application to tobacco," said Mr Thompson. In July the Minister of Health, Mr Bassett, had signed a further contract which continued to permit the advertising of cigarettes under a code of practice. “I am certain that the Minister would never have agreed to this code if he

thought that cigarette-ad-vertising breached any legislation, and if he was not happy with the code’s provisions,” said Mr Thompson. “Cigarette advertising does not promote smoking and we have previously shown Mr Smithies’ evidence which demonstrates quite clearly that cigarette advertising promotes brandswitching or brand loyalty but certainly does not not expand the market. “The evidence is the same both in New Zealand and abroad and it is ironic that tobacco consumption is frequently higher in those countries which promote prohibition by banning cigarette advertising. “It is a matter for regret that Mr Smithies has chosen to follow some international consumer unions in a crusade against smokers while at the same time ignoring the facts of the matter here in New Zealand,” said Mr Thompson.