Tobacco consumption ranks first among preventable causes of death in the world. Causing death in approximately half of its users and unfortunately being legally consumable, this harmful substance is usually adopted before the age of 15 years. The number of young people between 10 and 24 years of age is 1.8 billion worldwide. And more than 85% of this young population live in the developing world. Unless they have had a severe illness during childhood, a great majority of this young population is healthy. Due to their characteristics of persuadability and easily influenceability, young people are the main target of the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry regards the youth as potential consumers likely to be lifelong users of tobacco products.
Nicotine is a potently addictive substance. Once children and young people try smoking tobacco, most of them become tobacco-dependent for their lifetime. The earlier the age when a child smokes his first cigarette, the longer will he become a regular tobacco consumer and the more likely will he experience more difficulty in quitting tobacco. One-fourth of cigarette smokers have started smoking before the age of 10 years. Together with some other tobacco marketing tactics, covert and overt advertisements have been definitely proven to be influential in encouraging young people to use tobacco. Clearly recognizing this fact, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars for effectively marketing their lethal products. Led by the World Health Organization, all scientists waging an anti-tobacco struggle are also aware of this danger. Therefore, the main theme of this year’s “World No Tobacco Day” activities has been decided to be “Tobacco-Free Youth”.
In order to prevent young population from trying tobacco for the first time and subsequently, becoming a member of regularly tobacco-consuming group, a complete ban is absolutely necessary on direct and indirect tobacco advertising, including promotional and sponsorship activities for tobacco products.
WHY DO WE NEED A COMPLETE BAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION OR SPONSORSHIP?
- Because approximately half of children worldwide live in countries where free distribution of tobacco products is not prohibited.
- Because complete and strict bans alone may be effective in reducing tobacco consumption.
- Because a reduction of 16% in tobacco consumption has been observed in countries where bans are executed, as shown by the comparisons conducted before and after these bans.
- Because incomplete bans cannot be effective and may allow tobacco advertising by means of alternative media.
There are hundreds of ways available for direct and indirect tobacco advertising. Business agenda of the tobacco industry includes a wide list like advertisements through television, radio, internet, posters, magazines, letters, coupons, symbols, billboards, lotteries, etc., sponsorships for sport activities, sponsorships for special activities targeting young people held in popular locations as bars or clubs.
A CALL TO ACTION
A COMPLETE BAN ON ADVERTISING, PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP SHOULD REDUCE CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
A call to politicians:
- Legal regulation is required for a complete ban on all types of advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities related to tobacco products. The Act no. 5727 enacted on 19 January 2008 and put into force on 19 May 2008 has stipulated a complete ban on advertising in order to protect the health of our citizens against hazards of tobacco. Without legal compulsion, any regulations based on voluntariness will not be effective and will not be adopted by the youth, in particular.
- Any policies and programs targeting the youth alone may not be sufficient. Only when advertising bans covering the whole population, increases in tobacco taxation rates and initiatives for creating completely smokeless indoors are undertaken altogether, much greater achievements may be secured in reducing the rates of tobacco use among the youth.
A call to the youth:
- Be open to receive education on the regulations effective in our country. The only valid rationale for the prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships is to protect your future.
- Participate in anti-tobacco educational campaigns organized for protecting you and give ear to the statements made by scientists on this issue.
A call to society:
- By supporting complete prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship for tobacco products, help protect the youth from this major health threat.
- Prove that cunning and expensive advertising of the tobacco industry are doomed to failure.
A call to non-governmental organizations:
- Support our new legislation which completely prohibits advertising, promotion and sponsorship for tobacco products in our country and have a share in enforcing it.
- Help the youth to participate in the tobacco-free youth campaign. Tobacco-control policies and programs can be much more effective only when they are collaboratively developed, executed and followed up.