German Federal Supreme Court Roots for "Smoke-free Program"
The Federal Supreme Court of Germany (BGH) has ruled that the choice buttons on supermarket vending machines for cigarettes must also display the common warning messages found on cigarette packs. This is a part of the lawsuit raised by advocates of the "Smoke-free Program" (Pro Rauchfrei).
The "Smoke-Free Campaign" has expressed discontent with two supermarkets in Munich for selling cigarettes at their cash registers through automated vending machines without prominently marking external warnings for customers. The anti-smoking organization has been backed by the Supreme Federal Court.
The European Union Tobacco Directive mandates that cigarette packaging must prominently feature repulsive images. Cigarette boxes are required to display not only warning messages but also pictures depicting blackened lungs, diseased body parts of smokers, or cancerous ulcers. However, these terrifying images are not displayed on vending machines.
The Supreme Court of the federation stated, "Such images can also generate purchase impulse; hence, it is necessary to label them with health-related warnings.
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