This idea has been created by the Scrutinise team as a historical case study. It represents real legislation that reached the statute book through civil society advocacy. It is presented here to show how that process might have looked on Scrutinise.
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002
Banned almost all tobacco advertising and promotion in the UK, including print, billboards, and sponsorship of sport. ASH and the BMA campaigned for this for over 30 years. Tobacco companies challenged it in the courts and failed.
Summary
Banned almost all tobacco advertising and promotion in the UK, including print, billboards, and sponsorship of sport. ASH and the BMA campaigned for this for over 30 years. Tobacco companies challenged it in the courts and failed.
Challenge (summary)
Tobacco advertising recruited new smokers — particularly young people — by normalising and glamourising smoking. The industry spent over £100 million per year on UK advertising. Evidence from countries that had banned advertising showed significant falls in smoking uptake.
Approach (summary)
A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion across all media, including indirect advertising through sponsorship, ending the industry's ability to recruit new smokers through marketing.
First step (summary)
Introduce primary legislation banning tobacco advertising in print, on billboards, and by direct mail; ban tobacco sponsorship of events; apply equivalent restrictions to point-of-sale display; challenge any EU state aid or competition law objections.
Stage
DevelopIdea Type
Legislation
Government Area
Health
Created
27 Mar 2026