The addition ‘enjoy, but drink in moderation’ has been mandatory in alcohol advertisements for decades. In France, they will go a step further from 1 March and such a warning will also be added to car advertisements: cycle or walk, consider carpooling, or take public transport.
A warning such as ‘enjoy, but drink in moderation’ is intended to alert consumers to the negative effects of alcohol. The same goes for the macabre slogans and ominous pictures on cigarette cases. In France they are therefore going further and from 1 March it will be mandatory to point out to motorists the three alternatives to driving: walking/cycling, carpooling and using public transport.
Advertisers can be fined up to 50,000 euros
Car advertisements – in print, on the radio, or on television – will soon have one of three warnings: “for short distances, walk or cycle”, “consider carpooling”, or “take public transport daily. “. In some cases, a hashtag must also be added: #SeDéplacerMoinsPolluer (which means something like: move without polluting). Advertisers who do not comply with the rules can be fined up to 50,000 euros.