An international team of experts, including specialists from the Tobacco Control Unit at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), has published an in‑depth review that sheds light on the main legal loopholes that still allow tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to persist across Europe.
The article, published in the journal Tobacco Control, examines 140 scientific and documentary sources to map out where current regulations fall short. The authors identify five key areas in which tobacco control measures are not fully preventing industry influence:
- Portrayals of smoking in films, TV shows, and other audiovisual media
- Cross-border sponsorships and brand presence
- Marketing at points of sale
- Online advertising
- Promotion of tobacco and nicotine products on social media
According to the study, the fast‑moving digital environment and the ease with which companies can operate internationally continue to make it possible for the tobacco industry to sidestep existing rules. The authors call for stronger, better-coordinated strategies across countries to ensure that legislation is effectively enforced and that the public is protected from ongoing promotional tactics.