Tobacco advertisement ban plan welcomed

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 50

Tobacco advertisement ban plan welcomed

PA Wellington A proposed ban on tobacco advertising, and sales of tobacco to people under 16 has been hailed by the Medical Association and the Cancer Society as a big help to stop young people smoking. “The Toxic Substances Board has really grasped the nettle, and its report echoes all the recommendations we have been making for years,” said Dr John Broadfoot, chairman of the New Zealand Medical Association. “We are particularly pleased with the proposed prohibition on tobacco advertising in connection with sport, and the recommendation that cigarettes

stop this problem at its source by discouraging today’s young people from smoking.” Yet people watching televised sport could have watched cigarette brand names for 18 days last year, and families who got a daily newspaper, a weekly magazine and a Sunday paper would see more than 200 cigarette advertisements a year. Even a child walking to school would see an average six cigarette advertisements on local dairies on the way. “We are not doing anything to protect today’s children from the future risk of cancer unless we are prepared to eliminate these hidden persuaders,” Dr Gray said.

should not be sold to anyone under 16.”

Cancer had risen as a cause of death, from 18

The Cancer Society’s per cent of all deaths in medical director, Dr Alan 1970, to causing 23 per Gray, said, "Doctors treat- cent in 1984, and most of ing cancer patients are this increase involved continually frustrated and;. smoking-caused cancers, angered that they cannot*/?he said.

“There are the fatal illnesses caused by smoking which are even more common, such as heart disease.

“A total ban might seem strong medicine but cancer deaths from smoking are already twice the road toll and increasing, especially in women.”

The Toxic Substances Board’s proposal, which includes a ban on point-of-sale advertisements for cigarettes, on tobacco companies sponsoring sporting events, and tobacco signs out of sports grounds, is before the Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, having been released earlier this week. The cricket hero, Richard Hadlee, appeared in advertisements in the windows of local dairies and garages for a sports fixture named after a cigarette brand, even though advertising agencies said their guidelines prevented this, said the chairman of the b6srd, Dr lan Prior.