Setting aside the fact that advertising is not effective way of promoting some products and services – there is an ethical question regarding the morality of advertising some products and services. The best known example of this debate is with regard to tobacco. Tobacco is a legal product, but it is not legal in many […]

Setting aside the fact that advertising is not effective way of promoting some products and services – there is an ethical question regarding the morality of advertising some products and services. The best known example of this debate is with regard to tobacco. Tobacco is a legal product, but it is not legal in many countries to advertise tobacco products, and in many of these countries the advertising discourages the consumption of these products. Now coming into the sites of health advocates are alcohol and fast food advertising. Alcohol advertising is already restricted and the pressure to restrict the advertising of fast food is growing. Along with this growth in pressure is the growth in the debate, with many people still contending – ‘if it is legal to buy, it should be legal to advertise’. My response to this argument is – WHY? Why should all legal products be able…