World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2008
The focus
Globally, most people start smoking before the age of 18, with almost a quarter of those beginning before the age of 10. The younger children are when they first try smoking, the more likely they are to become regular tobacco users and the less likely they are to quit.
A strong link between advertising and smoking in young people has been proven. The more aware and appreciative young people are of tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to smoke or say they intend to. As a result, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars worldwide each year spreading its marketing net as widely as possible to attract young customers. Tobacco companies market their products wherever youth can be easily accessed - in the movies, on the Internet, in fashion magazines, and at music concerts and sports events.
In response to this threat, World No Tobacco Day 2008 campaigns for a:
Total ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship by the tobacco industry.
WHY DO WE NEED TO CAMPAIGN FOR A TOTAL BAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP?
• Because about half the children of the world live in countries that do not ban free distribution of tobacco products to them.
• Because only total and comprehensive bans can be effective in reducing tobacco consumption.
• Because national-level studies before and after advertising bans found a decline in tobacco consumption of up to 16%.
• Because partial bans have little or no impact on demand since advertising can be switched to alternative media.