News analysis
Czech Republic: BAT gets round weak ad ban
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; eva.kralikova@lf1.cuni.cz
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The Czech Republics current advertising ban dates from 2003, but there are strong signs that it needs to be strengthened. The law bans all forms of advertising and promotion of tobacco products, including sponsorship. Unfortunately, however, the use of tobacco products names or mention of their supposed attributes is only banned on radio and television. This is currently exploited by BATs Pall Mall brand, which has been promoting a range of clothes on billboards in Prague. In addition, BAT used the Pall Mall brand name in its sponsorship of the countrys world renowned film festival, Febiofest, in both 2006 and 2007. Such activities apparently get round the countrys laws, though to date, there have been no serious challenges.
Not content with such brand stretching and promotion of the brand name in association with a much publicised cultural activity, BAT also uses its continuing marketing activities for lobbying purposes, to try
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