Podgorica councillors Mirza Krnic and Mitar Susic have submitted a proposal to restrict advertising on property owned by the capital city and within its public institutions. The proposed rules would ban advertisements for betting shops, casinos, lotteries, online gambling platforms, alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, addictive substances and certain other products that may harm public health, particularly that of children and young people. Restrictions would also cover content promoting violence, hatred or harmful behaviour, as well as indirect promotion through social responsibility campaigns, charitable activities and educational programmes sponsored by gambling operators when their brands or logos are displayed.
A key provision would require at least 30% of available advertising and marketing space to be reserved for initiatives serving the public interest, including education, amateur sports, healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, cultural events, environmental protection, humanitarian work and support for vulnerable groups. This space would be provided free of charge or at a discount of up to 50%. Exceptions would apply to certain sponsorship and advertising arrangements involving city-owned sports clubs and facilities, although restrictions would remain in place for advertisements visible from public areas outside sports venues.
The councillors argue that public property should not be used to promote activities that can damage health and social well-being. The proposal does not introduce a general advertising ban across Podgorica; it applies only to property and institutions owned or controlled by the city. The city assembly is due to discuss the proposal on 5 November, but it has not yet been adopted. If approved, conflicting existing contracts could remain in force for up to six months, while municipal institutions and companies would have 90 days to bring their rules and contracts into line with the new decision. The proposal is not expected to require additional funding from the city budget.