The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Initiating a media campaign to ban street advertising for smoking in Timisoara City.

Methods: We investigated all kind of street publicity on the major streets of Timisoara City (with over 400.000 habitants) and comparing it in time. 69, 64% of the panels were for cigarettes, medium size was 2, 4 ± 0, 4/1, 8 ± 0, 3m., 92, 3% were situated at the cross-roads and surroundings, with maximum incidence in the central area and in most visible position. In May 2003 we took pictures of 14 panels near prohibited areas and presented it in local news-papers to initiate a media debate. We have collected data and have used a web site: www.fumat.ro. According to a law 148/july 24, 2000 it is prohibited to have smoking and alcohol advertising closer than 200 m from school, universities and hospitals. 5 local newspapers and 2 national published articles.

Results: June 22, 2003: City Hall Council proposed for public discussion a law to prohibit advertising for smoking on all public locations in Timisoara. September 2003: a specific law was voted by local council. January 1, 2004: Timisoara, the first Romanian city free of tobacco advertising. Tobacco companies sued Local Council and after 9 months regained the right to advertise in other locations. A media campaign can be efficient to stimulate local authorities to ban smoking advertising in a European Union candidate.