Judge Lifts Some Limits on Tobacco Ads and Labels

[alp227]

Source: Duff Wilson, The New York Times

A federal judge in Kentucky issued a mixed ruling Tuesday in the first major challenge to a federal law regulating tobacco.

Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr. of Federal District Court upheld the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to restrict tobacco marketing and a specific provision requiring new, graphic warning labels to cover the top half of cigarette packages.

The judge also affirmed federal, state and local authority to impose additional restrictions on tobacco marketing.

But Judge McKinley ruled in the industry’s favor against a ban on color and graphics in labels and advertising, saying that was too broad an intrusion on commercial free speech.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/business/media/06smoke.html

[virgogal]

1. Oh well.

[Tempest]

2. A hollow victory for the tobacco companies

What good will advertising be colorful and all if the fed and states say you can only show them in limited venues?

[classysassy]

3. Another dis honorable judge

Keep that tobacco money rolling in boys.Bums like that judge,should be impeached.

[naaman fletcher]

4. why?

Because the rule of law should be subverted to whatever whim the public is following?