Q&A

Question: What restrictions are there for advertising cigarettes?

The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 (Cth) provides for the restrictions around advertising cigarettes in Australia. It restricts advertisements that might persuade consumers to start smoking or continue smoking or use or continue using tobacco related products. It applies to all tobacco advertising in Australia, including advertising online and through other electronic sources. The only allowable advertisements of tobacco include advertisements that are about political discourse, anti-smoking and advertisements where smoking is incidental or accidental. This means that tobacco has virtually no positive advertisements in Australia, including advertisements on packaging, which now has to be plain packaging.