In light of World No Tobacco Day on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a new call for a total ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, according to France Presse. Tobacco is the origin of premature death of six million people a year, according to the United Nations specialized agency.
Prohibition of all forms of advertising and promotion of tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce consumption, especially among young people, said Douglas Bettcher, WHO head of non-communicable disease prevention. Consumption was reduced by 7 percent on average in countries where such a ban was introduced.
“Most tobacco users start their deadly drug dependence before the age of 20. Banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship is one of the best ways to protect young people from starting smoking as well as reducing tobacco consumption across the entire population,” said Bettcher.
“This is an industry that sells a product that kills up to half their consumers,” said Bettcher, adding: ” Tobacco companies are like a mutating virus. When you ban one type of advertising, maybe the most commonly-known forms, billboards, television, radio, they move into other areas.”
WHO warns against new commercial tactics of the tobacco industry, like the distribution of gifts, hidden advertising in cafes or nightclubs, use of social networks, the placement of tobacco products in movies or television series or more, even using various charitable activities.
“That’s why the ban has to be complete in order to be fully effective,” WHO executive concluded. Only 19 countries have enacted such a ban and managed to decrease tobacco consumption by 7 percent, AFP notes.
Bettcher praised Australia for its plain packaging rule, in place since last December: all tobacco products should be placed and sold in the same type of boxes with images of diseased smokers. Other countries such as Ireland and New Zealand are planning to follow suit.
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