Non-Smokers' Rights Association v. British American Tobacco

Non-Smokers' Rights Association sued British American Tobacco (BAT) France for violating the country’s tobacco advertising laws in 2010. The court found BAT France and its president guilty of both criminal and civil violations for (1) distributing a poster to 28,000 retailers saying “false cigarette, true risk” with the BAT logo; and (2) publishing a document on the company’s website announcing a BAT France campaign to raise awareness of counterfeit tobacco cigarettes. The court found that the poster and the campaign constituted illegal tobacco advertising by encouraging people to consume tobacco products and by enhancing the value of the BAT France brand. BAT was ordered to pay a fine for violating the law.

Non-Smokers' Rights Association v. British American Tobacco - France, No. 11206045240, Court of First Instance - Nanterre (2012).

  • France
  • Oct 5, 2012
  • Court of First Instance - Nanterre

Parties

Plaintiff Non-Smokers' Rights Association

Defendant

  • British American Tobacco - France
  • Mr. Ricardo de Alameida Oberlander

Legislation Cited

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product

None

"With regard to the material element of the offense: It involves determining whether the internet press release and the advertising poster in question constitute direct or indirect publicity or advertising for tobacco. More precisely, it involves determining whether these actions, whatever their purpose, have as their effect to make people think of tobacco products. Now then, it cannot be disputed that by stating, “false cigarette, true risk,” in the two items of publicity in question, the accused enhance the value of the true cigarette, so that it is unavoidably associated in the mind of the consumer with false risk; Moreover, on the poster the consumer is directly addressed when he is asked where he purchases his cigarettes, with a very strong reminder in this case of tobacco products. ...The inclusion of the name and color logo of the manufacturer on the publicity items in question also constitutes the material element of the offense, since the relevant legal text does not apply to any particular brands of tobacco but to all advertising for tobacco. The very name of the company calls tobacco to mind, and it is known as a manufacturer of cigarettes, which is also evoked, moreover, by the photo on the poster including several cigarettes."