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Ad bans do not reduce consumption

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PROFESSOR Mackay's letter (South China Morning Post, October 2) is misleading. It only tells half the story.

Quite how the Government's proposed legislation regarding tobacco can be called 'extremely modest', defies logic.

The Government is proposing to restrict the visibility of any tobacco product trademark - it will be restricted to one pack face at retail level.

Any other advertising or trademark use, be it in the form of advertising, sponsorship, direct mail, or indeed worn on clothing, will be illegal.

If the total removal of all forms of commercial communication in relation to tobacco products is considered 'extremely modest', then one can only wonder at what Professor Mackay considers to be a suitable control.

In naming the 20 countries with total or near-total bans, she omits to mention that the incidence of smoking in these countries is either the same as before the ban was introduced or indeed has increased.

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