| WHO WANT A BAN ON ALL TOBACCO ADVERTISING
TO PROTECT YOUTH
30 May, Geneva - The world Health Organization
(WHO) today urged governments to protect the world's 108 billion young
people by imposing a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
The WHO call to action comes in advance of World No Tobacco
day, 31 May. This year's campaign focuses on the multi-billion dollar
efforts of tobacco companies to attract young people to its addictive
products through sophisticated marketing.
Recent studies prove that the more young people are exposed
to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking. Despite
this, only 5 % of the world's population is covered by comprehensive
bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Tobacco companies,
meanwhile, continue targeting young people by falsely associating use
of tobacco product with qualities such as glamour, energy and sex appeal.
"In order to survive, the tobacco industry needs to replace
those who quit or die with new young consumers," said WHO Director-General,
Dr Margaret Chan. "It does this by creating a complex 'tobacco marketing
net' that ensnares millions of young people worldwide, with potentially
devastating health consequences."
" A ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
is a powerful tool we can use to protect the world's youth," the Director-General
added.
Since most people start smoking before the age of 18,
and almost a quarter of those before the age of 10, tobacco companies
market their products wherever youth can be easily accessed-in the movies,
on the internet, in fashion magazines and at music and sport venues.
In a WHO worldwide school-based study of 13-15 year-olds, more than
55% of student reported seeing advertisement for cigarettes on billboards
in the previous month, while 20% owned an item with a cigarette brand
logo on it.
But it is the developing world, home to more than 80
% of the world's youth, which is most aggressively targeted by tobacco
companies. Young women and girls are particularly at risk, with tobacco
companies seeking to weaken cultural opposition to their product in
countries where women have traditionally not used tobacco.
"The tobacco industry employs predatory marketing strategies
to get young people hooked to their addictive drug," said Dr Douglas
Bettcher, Director of WHO'S Tobacco consumption by up to 16 % in countries
that have already taken this legislative step."
"half measures are not enough," added Dr Bettcher."When
one from of advertising is banned, the tobacco industry simply shifts
its vast resources to another channel. We urge government to impose
a complete ban to break the tobacco marketing net," he said. |
