World No Tobacco Day, May 2013 - Maun, Botswana

Key messages - World No Tobacco Day 2013

All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship should be banned

Advertising bans significantly reduce the numbers of people starting and continuing to smoke. Banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco use.

The tobacco industry is constantly trying new promotional tactics using nontraditional media to exploit advertising and promotion bans

Examples include:

Ø  handing out gifts and selling branded products such as clothing, in particular targeting young people

Ø  “stealth marketing” such as engaging trendsetters to influence people in places such as cafes and nightclubs

Ø  using online and new media, such as encouraging consumer interaction to design a new pack for a cigarette brand

Ø  placement of tobacco products and brands in films and television programmes, including reality TV and soap operas

Ø  corporate social responsibility activities such as donating to charity.

Tobacco industry advertising and sponsorship target young people

About one third of youth experimentation with tobacco occurs as a result of exposure to tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Worldwide, 78% of young people aged 13-15 years report regular exposure to some form of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Young people aged 13-15 years are up to five times more likely than adults to be offered free cigarettes by a representative of a tobacco company.

Most people using tobacco products start doing so before the age of 20.

A comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is required under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)

A comprehensive ban reduces tobacco consumption regardless of a country’s income level.

WHO's report on the global tobacco epidemic 2011 shows that only 19 countries (representing just 6% of the world’s population) have reached the highest level of achievement in banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Call to action

WHO urges governments to ban all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship as part of the full implementation of the WHO FCTC and to be mindful of tactics used by the tobacco industry to evade these laws. Legislation should be properly enforced.

Charities and community projects should never accept tobacco industry support. Tobacco companies use corporate social responsibility activities to promote themselves as good corporate citizens, normalizing tobacco use and creating goodwill in the community.

Consumers should be alert to tactics used by tobacco companies to exploit advertising and promotion bans.