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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ash and Cancer Research win ban on ads attacking plain cigarette packs | Ash and Cancer Research win ban on ads attacking plain cigarette packs |
| (7 months later) | |
| Anti-smoking campaigners have won a battle against Gallaher, which markets brands including Benson & Hedges, Camel and Silk Cut, after the advertising watchdog banned the tobacco giant's national advertising campaign attacking proposals for plain cigarette packaging. | Anti-smoking campaigners have won a battle against Gallaher, which markets brands including Benson & Hedges, Camel and Silk Cut, after the advertising watchdog banned the tobacco giant's national advertising campaign attacking proposals for plain cigarette packaging. |
| Gallaher ran three ads in UK national newspapers claiming that there was "no credible evidence" to support the assertion that plain packets would prevent young people from starting to smoke. | Gallaher ran three ads in UK national newspapers claiming that there was "no credible evidence" to support the assertion that plain packets would prevent young people from starting to smoke. |
| The ads hit out against anti-tobacco groups and the Department of Health's consultation on the introduction of plain packs claiming that the policy was rejected by the government in 2008 because there was "no evidence" it would work. | The ads hit out against anti-tobacco groups and the Department of Health's consultation on the introduction of plain packs claiming that the policy was rejected by the government in 2008 because there was "no evidence" it would work. |
| Legislation on the introduction of plain cigarette packaging is expected to be announced by the coalition government in the Queen's speech in May, along with the banning of smoking in cars carrying anyone aged under 16. | Legislation on the introduction of plain cigarette packaging is expected to be announced by the coalition government in the Queen's speech in May, along with the banning of smoking in cars carrying anyone aged under 16. |
| "Everyone, us included, wants to prevent minors from starting to smoke," ran copy in one of the press ads. "Given the importance of the issue, why is the Department of Health consulting on a proposal which (a) has no evidence to support it and (b) common sense says won't work? In 2008, the same policy was rejected when it was found to have no credible evidence ... ." | "Everyone, us included, wants to prevent minors from starting to smoke," ran copy in one of the press ads. "Given the importance of the issue, why is the Department of Health consulting on a proposal which (a) has no evidence to support it and (b) common sense says won't work? In 2008, the same policy was rejected when it was found to have no credible evidence ... ." |
| Anti-smoking campaigners Ash, Ash Scotland and Cancer Research UK lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority that the claims were misleading. | Anti-smoking campaigners Ash, Ash Scotland and Cancer Research UK lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority that the claims were misleading. |
| Gallaher, which is part of Japan Tobacco International, said that in 2008 the government introduced a number of measures including a ban on the display of tobacco products in shops but explicitly rejected plain packaging. | Gallaher, which is part of Japan Tobacco International, said that in 2008 the government introduced a number of measures including a ban on the display of tobacco products in shops but explicitly rejected plain packaging. |
| The ASA said that Gallaher's ads made it sound like the government had decided to abandon the proposal and did not plan to revisit it in the future, due to lack of evidence, which was not the case. | The ASA said that Gallaher's ads made it sound like the government had decided to abandon the proposal and did not plan to revisit it in the future, due to lack of evidence, which was not the case. |
| In a ministerial statement lodged in 2008 Alan Johnson, then health secretary in the Labour government, said that the government would "keep tobacco packaging under close review". | In a ministerial statement lodged in 2008 Alan Johnson, then health secretary in the Labour government, said that the government would "keep tobacco packaging under close review". |
| "We therefore considered that the claims in the ads that the policy had been 'rejected' in 2008 because of a lack of credible evidence gave a misleading impression of the position and action taken at that time by the government and concluded that the ads breached the [advertising] code," the ASA said. | "We therefore considered that the claims in the ads that the policy had been 'rejected' in 2008 because of a lack of credible evidence gave a misleading impression of the position and action taken at that time by the government and concluded that the ads breached the [advertising] code," the ASA said. |
| The ASA banned the ads, which were created by UK agency Big Al's Creative Emporium, and ordered JTI not to make the assertions in future campaigns. | The ASA banned the ads, which were created by UK agency Big Al's Creative Emporium, and ordered JTI not to make the assertions in future campaigns. |
| "JTI is disappointed the ASA has upheld a complaint from tobacco control groups challenging whether the government had rejected the policy of adopting plain packaging on cigarettes in 2008 because of a lack of credible evidence," said a spokeswoman for the tobacco company. | "JTI is disappointed the ASA has upheld a complaint from tobacco control groups challenging whether the government had rejected the policy of adopting plain packaging on cigarettes in 2008 because of a lack of credible evidence," said a spokeswoman for the tobacco company. |
| "Whilst we disagree with the ASA's decision, we will not use the advertisements in question again. We also disagree with those who it appears wish to close down this debate and will continue to express our concerns, as it is essential that common sense and sound evidence prevail. | "Whilst we disagree with the ASA's decision, we will not use the advertisements in question again. We also disagree with those who it appears wish to close down this debate and will continue to express our concerns, as it is essential that common sense and sound evidence prevail. |
| "It would appear that some may be using the media to pressure the government into adopting a policy, despite there being no credible evidence that it will have any public-health benefit". | "It would appear that some may be using the media to pressure the government into adopting a policy, despite there being no credible evidence that it will have any public-health benefit". |
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