Question

in 2008, panama became the first country in the americas to enact a complete ban on all advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products or taps. according to estimates, taps bans can decrease tobacco consumption by 7 to 16%. the panamanian law not only prohibits national media and billboard advertisement but also commercials in international media originating outside the country, the distribution of products with tobacco brand logos, sponsorship of sports teams, promotional price discounting or product placement in television and motion pictures. the ground - breaking legislation also restricts advertising and marketing at the point of tobacco sale, an element often not included in bans adopted by other countries.
source: adapted from wro.int/features/2013/panama_ban_tobacco/en/index.html
what is the main idea of the selection?

• banning tobacco advertisements can decrease tobacco consumption by 7 to 16%.
• the ground - breaking legislation restricts advertising and marketing at the point of tobacco sale.
• panama became the first country in the americas to enact a complete ban on all advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products.
• the panamanian law prohibits national media and billboard advertisement and also commercials in international media.

Explanation:

To find the main idea, we analyze each option:

• The first option focuses on the effect of banning ads, but the passage is about Panama's ban, not just the effect.
• The second option is about a specific part of the law (at point of sale), not the main idea.
• The third option states that Panama became the first in the Americas to enact a complete ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, which matches the overall content of the passage (introducing Panama's ban and its details).
• The fourth option is about a specific prohibition in the law, not the main idea.

Answer:

Panama became the first country in the Americas to enact a complete ban on all advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products.