In the current era of product placement, it
seems hard to imagine a life without being bombarded with intense marketing
techniques. You might agree that’s sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between
strategy and reality? For this reason, and in a bid to protect the general
public, various governments throughout the world have introduced laws which
limit the location, timing, and intensity of marketing.

Browse our guide below as we explore a few
of the different laws which exist across the globe.

Sweden

It should come as
no surprise that advertising techniques are carefully developed to link with
programming schedules. They tug on the attention of the viewer, encouraging
them to reach for their debit card and part with their hard-earned cash.
Consider a holiday advert magically appearing during the interlude of Love
Island, or Dominos and lager pop ups during half-time of the football — no,
this wasn’t by chance.

Sweden previously
only had terrestrial state-owned television channels, which did not feature
advertising. But as of 1991, the country began to see the harsh effects of this
type of commercial programming.

A study by Yale
University showed that children ate more unhealthy foods while watching
cartoons with junk food adverts. Desperate to protect their younger generation,
the Swedish government passed legislation which banned advertising directed at
children under the age of 12. A decade after introducing the legislation,
Sweden presented their findings to the European Union. The results linked a
decrease in obesity within children directly to the ban on advertising. Sweden
proposed that it be rolled out across the board — however, it was not picked
up.

France

Alcohol has a particularly contentious
historic relationship with the marketing industry. During the 1994–1995 Premier
League football season, six of the 20 clubs all had alcohol brands as their
major shirt sponsorship. Not one club has maintained the tradition,
understanding the conflicting impacts presented. Everton being the last club to
say bon voyage to their sponsor, Thai golden brew, Chang. France banned all
alcohol advertisements on television and in cinemas. During any occasion in
which alcohol advertisements are deemed appropriate, it must be accompanied by
a warning regarding the dangers of consumption.

United Kingdom

Back in 2007, England banned smoking
indoors as the government tempted to quash mass respiratory problems and lung
cancer. Back in 1965, the decision was made to limit the advertising of
cigarettes on television. However, it wasn’t until forty years later, in 2005, that
legislation was passed which completely eliminated tobacco advertising.

Despite still sponsoring F1 giants Ferrari,
Philip Morris Inc., who own popular cigarette brand Marlboro, have not featured
on a car since the 2007 season due to international advertising laws regarding
tobacco.

Following lengthy debates between industry
leaders, health campaigners, and politicians, legislation was finally laid down
in January 2016 which banned branded cigarette boxes that were manufactured
after May 2016 or sold after January 2017.

United States

The healthcare system in the United States
is regularly at the forefront of the national media thanks to a lack of affordability.
However, in the early ‘90s, a spate of infections and deaths at the fault of
misleading hemophilic medication advertising brought about the introduction of
strict laws. For companies in the US who are marketing healthcare products, a
host of rules exist, to which, if they do not comply, they face significant
penalisation.

Throughout the world marketing laws differ
drastically depending on a host of reasons, including history and religion. The
advertising of products which are likely to cause social problems is, as we can
see from this article, globally restricted.

Article provided by a UK print
company with years
of experience in producing dibond signs.