The use of the images on Winfield packets has been criticised as misleading and a possible payback for Australia s fierce anti tobacco campaign.

Australia is set to introduce new plain packaging measues believed to be the world s toughest anti tobacco laws which will ban logos and branding on cigarette packets from later this year. BAT and several other tobacco firms have launched legal action against the laws.

The Winfield packets feature a picture of a kangaroo on the front, with a map of Australia and the words “An Australian Favourite”.

Australia s Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, said the packets were shameful and misled foreigners about the country s lifestyle.

“I think many Australians are going to be outraged that a big tobacco company all the way round the world is using Australia’s healthy lifestyle to market their deadly products,” she said.

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“What I think it’s really showing is the sneaky levels that tobacco companies will go to to encourage people to buy their products.”

But British American Tobacco s Australian arm criticised the Government for its attack while legal proceedings were underway in the High Court. The case is due to be heard in April.

“Unfortunately BATA cannot discuss matters that are currently before the High Court,” a spokesman for the company said.

“We are concerned that the attorney general has not respected the same High Court protocol by commenting in the manner she has.”

Ad watchdog warns e-cigarette brands over ‘unclear’ ads

: buy djarum cigarettes online – yam????

The Advertising Standards Authority adjudications upheld a number of complaints against individual brands, which include Sky Cigs, 5 Colors, Ten Motives and E Lites, as it seeks to clarify the rules around advertising e cigarettes.

The ads came under fire from the ASA for not making it clear what the commercials were promoting. In each of the instances, the brands and Clearcast had misinterpreted the BCAP Code as prohibiting reference to the terms e cigarette.

A TV ad for 5 Colors e cigarettes stated, “Five Colors. What s your flavour?” and showed adults jumping in the air, while fruits including strawberries and apples exploded in the background. On screen text included a URL and telephone number.

Five viewers complained the ad was misleading because it encouraged viewers to visit the website and did not make clear the characteristics of the product. Three viewers complained that the ad was irresponsible because it encouraged people to smoke, and two complainants argued that the ad did not make it clear the product was unsuitable for under 18 year olds.

The ASA upheld two of the complaints. It ruled that the ad should have made it clear that an e cigarette was the product being advertised, that it did not contain nicotine and that it was not available to under 18s.

E cigarette brand Ten Motives ran a TV ad written from the perspective of a man telling viewers about the things that mattered to him most, including loved ones. Complaints included claims that the ad did not make it clear what the product being advertised was and that it contained nicotine.

The ASA ruled that the ad should not appear in its current form again and should instead make clear the nature of the product and that it contained nicotine.

The other brands that were reprimanded by the ASA were Zandera s E Lites, which used a character called ‘Dave’, who misses the scene of a baby dancing to ‘Gangnam Style’ because he was outside having a cigarette (see below).

Zandera was told by the ASA not to run the TV ad, and a radio ad in their current form and that the ads should make it clear whether or not E Lites contain nicotine or not.

Finally, a TV ad for Sky Cigs showed young adults taking part in day to day activities. The ASA ruled that that ad should be remade to clearly identify the type of product it was promoting and that it should make it clear that Sky Cigs contained nicotine.