The Supreme Court of Appeal reportedly dismissed an appeal by British American Tobacco of South Africa, which argued the nationwide ban on tobacco advertising should not apply to one-to-one communication between manufacturer and consumer.

In its ruling, the court said health hazards caused by smoking outweigh interests of smokers, according to a report on the website of Business Day. The tobacco company had challenged the advert ban, saying existing users had a right to request and receive information about the product they have decided to purchase. (pi)