World No Tobacco Day 2008
Tobacco-Free Youth

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only consumer product that kills when used as intended by its manufacturers. Tobacco kills up to 50% of its regular users.

Approximately one billion young people live in the world today with 85% living in developing countries. Having survived the vulnerable childhood period, they are generally healthy. Nevertheless, tobacco use is contributing to the deadly mix that is changing the classic picture of healthy youth in the world.

Adolescent experimentation with this highly addictive product, aggressively pushed by the tobacco industry, can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence.

One of the most effective ways to protect young people from the harms of tobacco use is to ban advertising or promotion of tobacco products, and the sponsorship by the tobacco industry of any events or activities.

This year's campaign will focus on the following main message:

Tobacco marketing hooks young people to a product, tobacco, that kills up to half of its users. Complete bans on all forms of direct and indirect advertising, including sponsorship, are highly effective in protecting youth from initiating tobacco use.

Exposure to pro-tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorship as well as accessibility, availability, favorable prices and social acceptance of tobacco products play a crucial role in experimentation and transition to regular consumer. Tobacco promotional activities are causally related to the onset of tobacco use in adolescents and exposure to tobacco products advertising is predictive of consumption among youth.

The tobacco industry spends tens of billions of dollars worldwide annually in marketing their deadly products. Their marketing activities are intended to bring new, young, and hopefully life-long tobacco users into the market in order to replace those who die.

Forms of direct tobacco promotion include: radio; television; magazines; banners, posters and hoardings; direct mail; coupons; sweepstake offers; brand loyalty programs; sponsorship of specialized entertainment events in popular youth locations such as bars and clubs; and controlled circulation magazines distributed to those on the tobacco industry’s large mailing list.