Dear Editor,
Our children are in peril. Data show that 17.8 per cent of 13-15-year-olds currently smoke cigarettes — 21.5 per cent of boys and 14.3 per cent of girls (National Council on Drug Abuse/Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2010).
The compulsion to smoke a cigarette first thing in the morning is a sign of addiction. The survey revealed that 13.4 per cent of students experience the desire to smoke a
cigarette first thing in the morning. This level of addiction represents an increase from 3.8 per cent in 2000 and 5.9 per cent in 2006.
Research has shown the advertising and promotion of tobacco products encourages smoking in the youth. In recognition of this fact, the recent World No Tobacco Day focused on the banning of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. Worldwide, 78 per cent of young people aged 13-15 report regular exposure to some form of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Bans are said to be one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco consumption, with countries that have introduced bans showing a 7 per cent average reduction in tobacco consumption.
It is against this background that we are very concerned at the recent erection of a billboard in front of the premises of the tobacco company at Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, promoting a brand of cigarette. We note that the company's website states that:
"Carreras has for years been voluntarily observing codes of conduct related to many of the areas that are to be formally addressed by the enactment of the proposed tobacco control regulations. Over the years, Carreras has held the highest standards reflecting a responsible approach to the marketing and distribution of cigarettes in Jamaica. In fact, the company has over the years instituted self-regulatory voluntary marketing standards which have seen us, among other things:
o Voluntarily ceasing advertisement in all media (print, electronic and audio) in December 2002
o Removal of all billboards from the Jamaican market effective December 31, 2005
So we ask, what has happened to this responsible approach? This billboard is in the vicinity of Jose Marti High School (.7km). It is also clearly visible to any child who has to commute through Twickenham Park. In addition, the particular product being promoted includes a particular menthol kick which is intended to mask the harshness of tobacco and thereby making it more palatable to children. Is this the start of a new deadly trend? Will there soon be billboards promoting cigarettes all over the island encouraging our children to smoke?
So we encourage the minister of health to double his resolve to pass comprehensive tobacco-control legislation as outlined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect our Jamaican youth.
Dr Knox Hagley
Chairman
Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control
Our youth going up in smoke
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Our children are in peril. Data show that 17.8 per cent of 13-15-year-olds currently smoke cigarettes — 21.5 per cent of boys and 14.3 per cent of girls (National Council on Drug Abuse/Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2010).
The compulsion to smoke a cigarette first thing in the morning is a sign of addiction. The survey revealed that 13.4 per cent of students experience the desire to smoke a
cigarette first thing in the morning. This level of addiction represents an increase from 3.8 per cent in 2000 and 5.9 per cent in 2006.
Research has shown the advertising and promotion of tobacco products encourages smoking in the youth. In recognition of this fact, the recent World No Tobacco Day focused on the banning of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. Worldwide, 78 per cent of young people aged 13-15 report regular exposure to some form of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Bans are said to be one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco consumption, with countries that have introduced bans showing a 7 per cent average reduction in tobacco consumption.
It is against this background that we are very concerned at the recent erection of a billboard in front of the premises of the tobacco company at Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, promoting a brand of cigarette. We note that the company's website states that:
"Carreras has for years been voluntarily observing codes of conduct related to many of the areas that are to be formally addressed by the enactment of the proposed tobacco control regulations. Over the years, Carreras has held the highest standards reflecting a responsible approach to the marketing and distribution of cigarettes in Jamaica. In fact, the company has over the years instituted self-regulatory voluntary marketing standards which have seen us, among other things:
o Voluntarily ceasing advertisement in all media (print, electronic and audio) in December 2002
o Removal of all billboards from the Jamaican market effective December 31, 2005
So we ask, what has happened to this responsible approach? This billboard is in the vicinity of Jose Marti High School (.7km). It is also clearly visible to any child who has to commute through Twickenham Park. In addition, the particular product being promoted includes a particular menthol kick which is intended to mask the harshness of tobacco and thereby making it more palatable to children. Is this the start of a new deadly trend? Will there soon be billboards promoting cigarettes all over the island encouraging our children to smoke?
So we encourage the minister of health to double his resolve to pass comprehensive tobacco-control legislation as outlined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect our Jamaican youth.
Dr Knox Hagley
Chairman
Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control
Our youth going up in smoke
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