[Intl-tobacco] Mexico to ban tobacco ads on radio, TV from 2003

[Robert Weissman]

Mexico to ban tobacco ads on radio, TV from 2003

Source: Reuters (2002-05-31)
URL: http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/020531/tobacco_mexico_1.html

MEXICO CITY, May 31 (Reuters) - Mexico, where the Marlboro man still
rides on late-night television, said on Friday it will ban all tobacco
advertising
on radio and TV starting next year as part of a campaign to reduce
smoking in the country.
The measures, announced on the World Health Organization's annual World
No Tobacco Day, also call for a gradual elimination of cigarette sales
in
pharmacies and placement of health warnings on the front of cigarette
packs, instead of on the side of packs.

"Our policy is simple," Health Minister Julio Frenk said in announcing
the measures. "What we're demanding of this industry, which today is
dominated
by multinational companies, is that they adopt the same conduct in
Mexico that they have in their home countries."

In Mexico cigarette sales are dominated by two companies, Cigatam, of
which New York-based Philip Morris Cos Inc. (NYSE:MO) -- the makers of
Marlboro -- is a partner, and Cigarrera La Moderna, a unit of British
American Tobacco (London:BATS.L).

"We cannot accept that Mexicans' lives are worth less than those of U.S.
or British citizens," Frenk said.

The government said there are some 50,000 tobacco-related deaths in
Mexico a year and about $3 billion is spent each year in treating
smoking-related
illnesses.

A spokesman for Grupo Televisa (NYSE:TV - News; Mexico:TLEVISACPO.MX -
News), the country's leading broadcaster, said the ban would have
only a marginal impact on overall advertising sales, noting that
cigarettes ads can only now run on television after 10 p.m.
All the best,