7 DECEMBER 1991, Page 26

Puffs and fags

Sir: Well done Digby Anderson for defend- ing commercial free speech (Torn before lager', 16 November). I agreed with all of it. Martyn Harris's reply (Television, 23 November) to the article, mocking the case for commercial free speech, missed the point. Of course, companies want people to buy their products, and create advertise- ments to bring about that end. But political, religious and artistic expression is no differ- ent. Religious leaders want converts. Politi- cians want votes. Artists want patrons.

In fact, compared to much of the mis- leading dross produced by politicians, advertisements for goods and services are positively wholesome.

If one were to ban a product for its harm- ful effect, Karl Marx's Das Kapital would be a more likely item for censorship than an advertisement for Marlboro cigarettes.

Tom Burroughes

20 Sandown Road, Ipswich