Opposition to tobacco

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 8

Opposition to tobacco

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has pledged its support to the new Coalition Against Tobacco Advertising, which hopes to have tobacco advertising banned. The chairman of the college, Dr Karen Palmer, said the grim effects of tobacco smoke were well established and were seen every day by practising physicians. “The clever advertising seen all around us associates tobacco smoking with glamour, machismo and a desirable material lifestyle,” said Dr Palmer. Children and young adults were especially vulnerable to that type of attraction, she said. “The college will encourage any ef-

forts aimed at allowing people, especially the youth of the country, to be nonsmokers. It is especially important to remove the pressures to start smoking caused by this type of promotion.” Dr Palmer said the association of tobacco with the healthy wholesome image of sport was particularly unfortunate. “Tobacco company sponsorship of sport is not a charitable activity but cheap advertising.” New Zealanders interested in the health and welfare of the country’s young people should be sympathetic to the aims of - the coalition, said Dr Palmer.