Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

2.8% of adults in China have noticed anti-cigarette smoking information on TV or on the radio.

18.1% adults in China have noticed cigarette marketing.

18.1% of adults in China have noticed cigarette marketing on TV.

19.2% of adults in India have noticed advertisements or promotions of tobacco products.

774 million notice cigarette advertising or sponsorship.

40% of adults in Mexico have noticed advertisements for cigarettes.

40% of adults in Mexico have noticed cigarette advertisements for sports sponsorships.

More than 50 countries have already banned misleading terms such as “light.”

Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are obligated to implement comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorships within five years of ratifying the FCTC as a part of an effective set of tobacco control policies.

Advertising where tobacco is sold is a powerful form of advertising used by the tobacco industry to market its products and is especially effective with youth and smokers trying to quit.

Comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are essential to reduce tobacco use.

Tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship bans must prohibit advertising at the places where tobacco is sold.

Article 13 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires a complete ban on all forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR done by the tobacco industry should be banned.

Corporate social responsibility is a tobacco industry tactic to build goodwill with policymakers and the public, countering negative attention surrounding its deadly products, and defusing opposition from tobacco control advocates.

Pictorial warning labels on tobacco products counter tobacco industry advertising on tobacco products, increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use, reduce adolescents’ intentions to smoke, and motivate smokers to quit.

A comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship could decrease tobacco consumption by an average of about 7%, with some countries experiencing a decline in consumption of up to 16%.

Only 24 countries, representing 10% of the world, have banned all tobacco advertising and promotion.

Around one country in three has minimal or no restrictions at all on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

About 2 in 10 adults in Pakistan have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

The major tobacco companies now spend $8.8 billion per year—more than $24 million every day—to promote their products, and many of their marketing efforts directly reach kids.

4% of adults in Turkey have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

92% of adults in Turkey have noticed anti-cigarette information on the television or the radio.

8 in 10 adults in Indonesia have noticed cigarette advertisements, promotions (other than in stores), or sporting event sponsorship.

25.7% of adults in Thailand have noticed cigarette marketing in the past 30 days.

18.2% of adults in Thailand have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

16.9% of adults in Viet Nam have noticed cigarette advertising, sponsorship, or promotion.

45.1% of adults in Ukrainian have noticed cigarette marketing in advertisements, sponsorships, or promotions.

4 in 10 adults in Bangladesh have noticed anti-cigarette smoking information on TV or on the radio.

4 in 10 adults in Bangladesh have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

3 in 10 adults in Bangladesh have noticed cigarette marketing (other than in stores) or sporting event sponsorship.

40% of adults in Russia have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

44% of adults in the Philippines have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

9.6% of adults in the Philippines have noticed cigarette promotions on clothing or other items.

8% adults in Egypt have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

3 in 10 adults in Brazil have noticed cigarette marketing in stores where cigarettes are sold.

2 in 10 adults in Brazil have noticed cigarette marketing (other than in stores) or sporting event sponsorship.

Most people start smoking before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these smokers began smoking before the age of 10.

A study in the United Kingdom conducted between 1999 and 2004 found that, for each form of tobacco marketing that youth recognized, the likelihood of smoking initiation increased by 7%.

An Australian study found that nearly 40% of individuals trying to quit smoking experience urges to smoke when they see cigarette advertisements.

67% of adults in Brazil have noticed anti-cigarette smoking information on TV or on the radio.

A study in the United States found that advertising in stores increased the likelihood of smoking initiation, while the availability of sales promotions increased the likelihood that youth would move from experimentation to regular use.

Point of sale cigarette advertising increases the likelihood that youth will initiate smoking.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, 90% of 14 to 17 year olds had seen tobacco ads in the month prior to a 2006 survey.

Tobacco company-sponsored youth anti-smoking campaigns have never been shown to be effective in reducing youth smoking. In fact, they can make youth more likely to smoke.

In Spain, familiarity with local tobacco billboards increased the likelihood of smoking initiation among 13 to 14 year olds.

In China, 50-70% of 13-15 year olds surveyed have seen cigarette ads at sporting events.

A 2003 review of nine studies involving more than 12,000 youth concluded that tobacco advertising and promotion increase the likelihood that adolescents will start to smoke.

A study of 102 countries showed that in countries with partial advertising bans consumption only decreased by 1% compared with almost 9% in countries with comprehensive bans.