[Intl-tobacco] Anti-smoking group praises ban on cigarette ads (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Anti-smoking group praises ban on cigarette ads
Source: NewsEdge, Saturday, 8/12/00

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) via NewsEdge Corporation  - 

Anti-smoking advocates praised Brazil's legislature Thursday for taking
the first step toward a national ban on cigarette advertising.

The lower house of Brazils two-chamber legislature approved a measure late
Wednesday that would prohibit tobacco companies from advertising in all
print and broadcast media, on billboards and at sporting or cultural
events.

If passed by the upper house, it will go to President Fernando Henrique
Cardoso for approval.

Luiz Monaco, a lawyer and spokesman for the Smoker's Health Defense
Association, said the vote is ``already a great step.''

``I am under the impression that an approval by the Senate is underway for
sure,'' Monaco added.

The bill, drafted by Congressman Jutahy Junior, would impose fines of up
to dlrs 56,000 (100,000 reals) on violators. It would also punish radio
and television stations that run the ads, taking them off the air 10
minutes for each minute of cigarette advertising they broadcast.

Cigarette ads would be permitted only on posters displayed at businesses
where tobacco is sold, provided the ads did not feature children or
adolescents.

Officials at Souza Cruz, the country's largest cigarette manufacturer,
would not comment until they had seen a final draft of the bill, said
Ludmilla Le Maitre, a company spokeswoman.

It is estimated that every year more than 90,000 Brazilians die from
illnesses associated with cigarette smoking.