Why is the Government so anti-tobacco?
Smoking is the UK's biggest cause of preventable illness and early death - 120,000 people a year die from smoking every year. Hundreds more die from passive smoking. Treating smoking-related diseases costs the NHS £1.7bn a year. Banning tobacco advertising is one of several weapons ministers intend to use in their war on smoking.

What is the tobacco advertising ban?
The European Union directive on tobacco advertising requires EU member states to ban all "commercial communication and sponsorship whose aim or effect is to promote tobacco products". This would see the gradual phasing out, within the next eight years, of all tobacco advertising and promotion and sponsorship of events (such as, for example, Formula One motor racing).

How will a ban on tobacco advertising help?
Ministers believe tobacco advertising and sponsorship encourages people, especially children, to smoke and makes it socially acceptable. It estimates that a ban would reduce tobacco-related deaths by 2.5% a year, equivalent to 3,000 people. There is some evidence that bans work. Norway banned tobacco advertising in 1975, and according to Action on Smoking and Health, the "great majority of a 9% reduction in consumption was attributed to the advertising ban".

Aren't there controls on advertising already?
Tobacco marketing controls in the UK have evolved since 1965 when cigarette advertising was banned from TV. In 1990 adverts for all tobacco products were barred from TV, cinema and radio. Voluntary agreements between the industry and the government control press, poster and other types of promotion by laying down guidelines - such as a restriction on tobacco posters appearing within 200m of school entrances. The same agreement requires all advertisements for tobacco to carry a health warning.

Have the voluntary agreements worked?
A report by the House of Commons health select committee published in June 2000 concluded that voluntary agreements "have served the industry well and the public badly". The report said: "Our impression is that the purpose of the rules in discouraging consumption and youth smoking has often been ignored by the advertising agencies who seem to pay attention solely to the letter rather than the spirit of the restrictions."

What is the tobacco industry view?
The industry believes that tobacco advertising does not reduce smoking or prevent underage smoking but merely encourages existing smokers to maintain or switch brands. A ban therefore limits fair competition among companies for smokers' custom, limits companies' freedom to go about their "lawful business", and imposes "censorship of commercial free speech".