Reason Magazine

Print|Email

Hit the Breaks

Truth in advertising

European regulators have adopted limits on junk food advertising directed at children, on alcohol advertising directed at everyone, and on tobacco advertising and promotion, including a requirement that each box of cigarettes carry a warning label covering 30 percent of the package. Now a British member of the European Parliament, Chris Davies, wants carmakers to affix cigarette-style warning labels to their ads.

The proposed warnings, noting the environmental hazards posed by carbon emissions, would occupy 20 percent of the space in all print advertisements for cars. “The rationale is to try to get carmakers to compete on environmental information about their cars,” Davies said. Such competition already happens, although the E.U. legislation, if enacted, would make it compulsory.

In October the European Parliament approved Davies’ proposal in a nonbinding vote, setting the stage for further action. The auto industry has attempted to compromise with E.U. regulators, suggesting a voluntary set of advertising guidelines that would address environmental concerns. A spokesman for the parliament dismissed such a plan, saying it had “no confidence in the likely effectiveness” of voluntary agreements.

Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.

nfl jerseys|11.5.10 @ 11:48PM|

ntrsf

Nike Dunk Low|8.11.11 @ 9:50PM|

is good

ugg fox fur|11.4.11 @ 5:52AM|

search like

ugg bailey button triplet|11.4.11 @ 6:05AM|

is good

mbt shoes clearance|12.7.11 @ 11:58PM|

nice

Leave a Comment

More Articles by Michael C. Moynihan

advertisements

Get Reason E-mail Updates!

Manage your Reason e-mail list subscriptions

Site comments/questions:

Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:


(310) 367-6109

Editorial & Production Offices:

3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245