Key achievements of the WHO European region regarding direct tobacco advertising and promotion ban

Advertising on national TV and radio

In the WHO European Region, a ban on tobacco advertising and promotion on national TV and radio has been adopted in all 50 countries with available data (representing about 94% of the WHO European countries).

Advertising in local printed media

• Ban - More than 80% of the WHO European countries have adopted a ban on tobacco advertising and promotion in local printed media. Thus, 44 WHO European countries (representing about 83% of the WHO European countries) have banned tobacco advertising and promotion in local magazines and newspapers and 43 WHO European countries (representing about 81% of the WHO European countries) have banned tobacco on billboards and on other forms of outdoor advertising and promotion.
• Restriction - Some of the WHO European countries that have not adopted a ban have however provided restrictions on these forms of tobacco advertising and promotion: Six WHO European countries (representing about 11% of the WHO European countries) have provided restrictions for tobacco advertising in local magazines and newspapers and four WHO European countries (representing about 8% of the WHO European countries) have provided restrictions for tobacco advertising on billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising and promotion.
• No regulation - Tobacco advertising on billboards is still permitted in three WHO European countries (representing about 6% of the WHO European countries).