Advertising, ad campaigns, ad agencies, and the people that make it happen

Der Spiegel reports that a European court ruled on Tuesday Germany should step into line with EU law and ban tobacco ads in print and on TV. Germany is one of the last countries in Europe that has virtually no limits on tobacco advertising. You can also smoke in most restaurants, every bar and most public places. Many in Germany are condemning the verdict, arguing that it is against the national governments' rights. Ads for cigarettes run in magazines, on the Web and all over TV encouraging people to join the fun. But on Tuesday, an EU court ruled that Germany's advertising goes against a European ban and gives the German media an unfair edge in chasing the European single market. If I know anything about the Germans, it’ll be a while before they extinguish their “Stumphen!”