ASA Adjudication on Department of Health

An ad for the National Health Service smoke-free campaign claimed that “every 15 cigarettes you smoke will cause a mutation,” which is how cancer starts. In response to a number of complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) investigated the claim and found that it was backed by scientific evidence and was not likely to be misleading. Therefore, the ASA found that the ad did not violate the country’s advertising code. 

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ASA Adjudication on Department of Health, Complaint Ref: A13-218177 (2014).

  • United Kingdom
  • Jul 30, 2014
  • Advertising Standards Authority

Parties

Plaintiff

  • Forest (The Freedom Organisation For The Right To Enjoy Smoking Tobacco Ltd.)
  • Unidentified complainants

Defendant Department of Health t/a NHS

Legislation Cited

Committee of Advertising Practice Broadcast (BCAP) Code, Rule 3.1 (Misleading advertising)

Committee of Advertising Practice Broadcast (BCAP) Code, Rule 3.9 (Substantiation)

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product

None