Hungary: court victory on point of sale ads
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* David Simpson

Hungary chalked up another important victory recently when the high court ruled that point-of-sale (POS) tobacco advertisements visible from outside shops (in shop windows or entrances) were illegal. A string of court cases about such ads have been filed by tobacco control advocates since the country’s advertising ban came into force in January 2002 (Hungary: tobacco ads forced back inside. 

Tobacco Control2004;13:8

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). However, tobacco companies have continued to lobby the Ministry of Economic affairs and its enforcement agency to accept the companies’ own interpretation of the law, which considered these ads to be legal. Now British American Tobacco, market leader, has reserved its right to challenge this important decision in the constitutional court. Health campaigners acknowledge that Hungary’s ban is not total, but it only allows ads at the real point of sale, not in locations visible from public places.