CANSA supports World No Tobacco Day

28 May 2012

Thursday, 31 May 2012 marks World No Tobacco Day, and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is putting the spotlight on the tobacco industry's harmful tactics. Tobacco kills almost six million people a year, an average of one person every six seconds with the biggest rise in low- and middle-income countries. Over 44 000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases in South Africa.

The widespread use of tobacco products in our society and globally with its aggressive marketing, despite advertising restriction requirements in legislation, continues to be a challenge to public health. This situation continues to be high on CANSA's agenda and international platforms addressing tobacco control.

"We aim to educate policy-makers and the general public about the tobacco industry's harmful and dark marketing tactics of promoting tobacco products in clandestine ways, enticing women and young people to become smokers," says CANSAs CEO, Sue Janse van Rensburg.

Hubbly-bubbly is deadly

"We want to make everyone aware of the tactics by tobacco brands that lure them into smoking. We're aware that the past tobacco smoking was made freely available and promoted at exclusive parties - we have evidence of specific brands promoting cigarettes in a supermarket as well as at a restaurant as recent as November 2011. Beautiful women are used to promote and even distribute free cigarettes in that environment; giving the impression that smoking is cool."

CANSA warns that tobacco use in any form is dangerous to health, and being around someone who smokes, is also dangerous to health. Tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoke is known to cause lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. A big concern is that of hookah (hubbly-bubbly) smoking which seems to be a popular pastime at parties with teenagers and students. While they may think its safer than cigarettes, in fact its deadly. Smoking one hookah pipe can give you as much nicotine as smoking ten cigarettes even after the smoke has passed through the water, it still contains high levels of toxins including carbon monoxide and cancer causing chemicals.

Know the law

"It's up to all of us to fight the covert tactics of the tobacco industry and their agents and make the right choice in not supporting it in any way. Get to know the law around the Tobacco Control Act as you have the right to a smoke-free environment and we urge you to report any non-compliance to the Environmental Health Offices of the local municipalities," Janse Van Rensburg adds.

The Tobacco Control Act, restricts tobacco advertising including viral marketing which is a favoured approach to target young people. CANSA highlights the need for these laws to be leveraged to stop tobacco companies from marketing their harmful products to the public.

Claim your right to a smoke-free world and help CANSA fight for a smoke-free environment by buying a sticker for R5 and wearing it on 31 May for World No Tobacco Day.