Filed under: Euro, Government/Legal, Green, Marketing/Advertising, UK
EU calls for "health warnings" on car ads
How much do marketing angles play into consumer choices? The European Union apparently thinks a lot. For instance, we've recently seen all tobacco sponsorships pulled from motorsports, such as the world's most popular, Formula 1. Now it seems that automobile advertisements will be the next form of media ordered to clean up its act. Potential new rules that are currently in draft form and up for review by the College of Commissioners call for the inclusion of fuel consumption and carbon emission warnings on all vehicle advertisements, just like health warnings are included on packs of cigarettes. It is suspected that the legislation follows a previously published report that suggests 20 percent of every automobile ad should address environmental concerns. Arguments against the proposition claim that it will lead to lost revenue from decreased advertising by automakers who don't want to publicize how dirty their cars are. Would the Bugatti Veyron buyer really be swayed from his or her decision by seeing a single digit city fuel economy rating staring back from within the pages of Robb Report? We think not.
[Source: Autocar UK]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
BLS 12:41PM (6/10/2008)
I guess that is assuming that they drive their Bugatti more than 200 miles a year.
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Flashpoint 1:31PM (6/10/2008)
lol so few people have a Veyron, I doubt this will put a dent into the world CO2 budget.
Its those big, nasty trucks we should worry about.
Goat Law 12:44PM (6/10/2008)
Why doesn't the EU just go ahead and legislate that Global Warming, as envisioned by Al Gore, is a scientific fact and thereafter ban all carbon emissions, especially the dreaded carbon dioxide, human and otherwise. I for one would love to see human carbon dioxide emissions wipped away from the pristine wilderness of Europe.
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Kaptain75329 3:16PM (6/10/2008)
Screw that. We have warnings for all kinds of products. Why don't they just pass a law to make the following catch-all warning standard on everything so that perhaps they might get on to the business of governing instead of constantly diverting to asinine nit-picking and bullying.
"Warning: Life is not guaranteed to be safe. Just FYI."
Simple and effective. Everything government isn't.
adrian 6:57PM (6/10/2008)
In a politically correct world I should not be saying this, But banning tobacco advertising has badly weakened Formula One. Yes we all know that is bad for your health, but they had the funds to support most of the teams, even the unsuccessful teams that never won a single race but were there for the love of the sport. Now certain teams can't even compete in all the races due to a lack of cash. Now they are proposing this, What next.
People are going to smoke if they want to, No matter what.
By the way, I'm a non smoker.
psarhjinian 9:25PM (6/10/2008)
I used to be "meh" about smoking regulations until I saw my two-year old son with a straw in his mouth, pretending to smoke, because he's seen people on the street do it.
Then I got a little twitchy. I'm not quite sure what I think about it, yet, but I do think that being up-front with warnings is not a bad thing.
Smeagle 3:54AM (6/11/2008)
@Adrian
"People are going to smoke if they want to, No matter what."
Do you honestly think that most smokers "want" to smoke??? If they say that, they are merely trying to justify why they can't overcome thier drug addiction. The vast majority of smokers hate the fact that they now "have to" smoke wether they like it or not.
BTW I haven't had a cigarette in 12 Days.
DCragtop 12:46PM (6/10/2008)
keep that crap on the other side of the pond please. I likes me cars w/o warning lables thank you very much. They already make me sick to the stomach when I sees the MSRP.
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Aprime 1:16PM (6/10/2008)
Read Psa's comment and stop overreacting.
DCragtop 1:38PM (6/10/2008)
no, I MUST over react. If I don't, the terrorist win. That's what the Republicans said. And while PSA did put me at ease for a minute, Goat Law pushed me over the edge again. Now I'm f-n freekin out.
Aprime 1:39PM (6/10/2008)
lol k
Jason 1:43PM (6/10/2008)
my big, nasty trucks and SUVs have had rollover warnings on the driver's visor for over a decade now.
Austin 12:46PM (6/10/2008)
How about they hang this sign over their meeting auditoruim..."Idiots in Charge...Deal With It." The EU SUCKS!!!
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Aprime 1:19PM (6/10/2008)
I'd put that sign over your head if I were you, it doesn't infringe on your liberties and it's good for consumers to know how much carbon dioxide the cars output. The more you know, the better. =)
Goat Law 2:03PM (6/10/2008)
Why then don't we require all people and animals to be labelled with the amount of CO2 they emit on average. I sure would like to know how much you deadly carbon you emit spouting Global Warming propaganda all day. Oh wait, didn't I hear we may be cooling now? Or no, maybe that was back in the late 70's we were cooling? Who knows? Just leave it to the environazis to let you know which way the thermometer is moving today.
CarbonBlack 5:14PM (6/10/2008)
right on! +1
Austin 5:42PM (6/10/2008)
Aprime, Maybe i should put a sign over your head saying how much methane you put into the air when you take a crap. How about at Burger King, they have to advirtise the ammount on co2 that goes into the air when they cook a burger. When does it end. Government get out of my life...thats what I want.
Ben 12:52PM (6/10/2008)
Here's a warning:
"Driving a high-performance car may make you happy."
=]
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DCragtop 12:54PM (6/10/2008)
AMEN Brother Ben
psarhjinian 12:53PM (6/10/2008)
Relax, all they're requiring is the posting of valid CO2 usage in advertising material. Don't get your libertarian knickers in a twist.
It's like requiring automakers to use EPA fuel ratings or "real" lease and finance details, rather than make-believe numbers derived by the manufacturers that are, essentially, lies. If this weren't about environmental issues--say it was requiring legit, independently-tested SAE about horsepower/torque ratings in ads--would there be this much whinging?
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