The legislation, from a bill introduced by Lord Clement-Jones, will ban press, billboard and internet advertising, and will prohibit the promotion of smoking through free distribution of tobacco products, coupons and mail shots.
It will also restrict the display and promotion of cigarettes in shops, and end sponsorship of sporting and other events by tobacco companies. Formula 1 racing, however, will remain exempt from the ban until 2006, while it seeks new sponsors.
Health secretary Alan Milburn said: "A ban on tobacco advertising is a tough but proportionate response to the marketing and promotion of the only legally available product which kills one in two of its regular, long-term users."
The move will fulfil a Labour election manifesto pledge that has dogged the party with controversy ever since it was revealed that Formula 1's Bernie Ecclestone had given 拢1m to Labour prior to the 1997 general election.
John Connolly, public affairs manager at Action on Smoking and Health, said the move "goes a long way to restoring our confidence that the government is serious about tackling tobacco", saying he hoped that the legislation would br passed by summer and ads be banned by the end of the year.
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