Despite the tightening up of regulations when it comes to the public advertising of tobacco
products, it hasn’t reached social media and streaming platform campaigns.
Smoking is still portrayed as sophisticated, pleasurable and desirable, and is now being marketed in ways that attract children including enticing flavourings. Young people get sucked in, and then find themselves addicted.
The reality is that tobacco use is a major contributor to a host of cancers, responsible for 25% of all cancer deaths amounting to an estimated 2.5 million deaths annually. And smoking accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer deaths.
Young people don’t realise the threat that tobacco poses to their health and their lives. And once addicted it’s much more difficult to give it up.
Here at CANSA we’ll continue to lobby for stronger regulations that will shield our youth from harmful tobacco products and deceptive advertising.
And if you’re in a position to influence a young person against trying or starting to smoke, or stopping if they are already smoking, please do so.
It will be an act of love.