Lord Monson made the proposal during last Friday's Report stage of the
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill. It would allow firms such as
Philip Morris and British American Tobacco to publicise brands if they
could demonstrate they were "of significantly lower tar and nicotine
content
than the mildest products currently available.
"However successful government propaganda may be, millions of people will still want to smoke or take tobacco in some form. That being the case, it is surely desirable they take it in the least harmful form possible,
said Lord Monson.
The peer said that manufacturers who develop low-tar products "must know they can publicise them so as to recoup their costs".
Despite opposition from other peers, who said the ban must not allow manufacturers any loopholes, the proposal was added as an amendment to the draft legislation.
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