Ministers are determined to ban tobacco advertising in the UK, despite a European court ruling overturning a Europe-wide ban, and in the face of powerful commercial interests.

No sooner had the European court of justice overturned the 1998 EU directive banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship, than public health minister Yvette Cooper announced that Britain would go it alone with a ban.

The government has promised to push through legislation curbing tobacco sponsorship and promotion before the end of the current parliament. Banning tobacco advertising is a manifesto commitment, and a key part of the government's programme to improve public health, reduce health inequalities, and tackle cancer.

The government's determination may also reflect residual embarrassment over the Ecclestone affair in which Labour accepted a £1m donation from Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone while coincidentally handing to Formula One a three-year exemption from the tobacco sponsorship ban.

Ironically, the European court ruling could mean a stricter ban than the directive proposed. "There is definitely a silver lining because the government can now redraft the advertising ban to close the various loopholes and remove the unnecessary Formula One compromise," said Clive Bates, director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

A tobacco timeline
May 1997 Labour's election manifesto promises to ban tobacco advertising.
July 1998 EU directive on tobacco advertising becomes law, requiring all member states to legislate to implement the directive by July 2001.
June 1999 The government publishes draft proposals to ban tobacco advertising "by the end of the year".
October 1999 Tobacco companies win a high court injunction preventing implementation of the ban.
December 1999 The court of appeal overturns the injunction but tobacco companies apply to the House of Lords to have the appeal judgement overturned.
June 2000 The European court of justice (ECJ) is advised by its advocate general that the Directive should be annulled.
October 5 2000 The ECJ annuls the 1998 directive. The government announces plans to press ahead with a domestic ban. The European Commission is expected to attempt to reintroduce a ban as a public health measure.