WHO: Total Ban on Tobacco Advertising

WHO: Total Ban on Tobacco AdvertisingMay 30th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,30 May:The WHO’s call to action comes on the eve 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. "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 advocate.
WHO today urged governments to protect the world’s 1.8 billion young people by imposing a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. 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 products with qualities such as glamour, energy and sex appeal.