Law against tobacco in Switzerland
A new law against tobacco in Switzerland will be put to the vote on 13.02.22. The Federal Council recommends a NO vote with an indirect counter-proposal. The initiative's demand is formulated in a very „rubbery“ way, i.e. it is unclear what is actually being banned. Such an initiative should not be supported if you do not know what is actually in store for you. Therefore vote NO.
What is it all about?
Quotes from the FOPH on the popular initiative:
#1: Advertising for tobacco products is permitted in Switzerland subject to restrictions. Advertising aimed specifically at minors is prohibited, particularly at events or in publications for young people. It is also not permitted to give minors promotional gifts or distribute cigarettes free of charge. A majority of cantons have issued further-reaching bans, for example on tobacco advertising on posters and in cinemas as well as on the sponsorship of events. Tobacco advertising is generally prohibited on radio and television.
#2: The initiators want to ban all forms of advertising that reach children and young people. This would also prohibit advertising that is primarily aimed at adults but is also accessible to children and young people. Only advertising that is aimed at adults and does not reach minors would be permitted, such as advertising emails, brochures and targeted advertising on the internet or in social media.
You will find two important links below under Resources on the topic: An overview of what is permitted today and what will still be permitted with the new law, including the indirect counter-proposal. And a survey by 20 Minuten, in which 67% of respondents would vote in favour of the new law.
If the initiative is accepted, the following questions will remain unanswered:
- Print media (e.g. Cigar, Cigar Journal) may still be sold at kiosks, but they may no longer be visible?
- Online shops: What does the design of an online shop have to be like to be allowed to shop?
- Blogs: Do blogs only need to have a closed environment to access content? Note: Zigarren.Zone has been prepared for this for years.
- Technology for online shops and blogs: How is authentication handled technologically in order to prevent minors from „entering“ these online offers?
- Do tobacco shops have to darken their shop windows?
Zigarren.Zone is on the case and will report back.
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That's crazy, there has to be a minimum turnout to have a quorum. 55% were in favour of the restriction on voter turnout 44%. Not voting is an abstention for me, that would be 56% non-voters. This means that only 24.2% of voters actually voted in favour of a further restriction. 24.2% decide over 100% of the Swiss. That is sick!
I agree with that.
.... hash becomes legal, the Marlboro man is banned, too dangerous for young people, many of whom become stupid in the virtual world with ball games. It is becoming increasingly grotesque that responsible citizens are to be „protected“ from themselves by law in more and more areas. Who is going to protect us from these spelt biscuits, doubters and concern lyricists?
Well thought out. It is also interesting to note that the turnout on 13/02/22 was just under 44%. Not even half of those entitled to vote spoke out. It would have been easy to vote NO on the initiative just by thinking normally. What matters now is what the law will look like in detail, as this is still completely unclear and many questions remain unanswered.
Advertising, and above all the sale of matches, must also be banned! Scientific studies have shown that fires can be started with this devilish stuff.
Holy cow. You see, the initiators didn't even think of that!