Exposure to Tobacco advertising results in increased use: Study

Dec 24:  A study by the Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY), a non-government organisation revealed a connection between the extent of tobacco advertising and impact on tobacco use. It suggests an increase of tobacco addicts with the promotion and marketing of tobacco products.

The study titled “Tobacco marketing and its influence on tobacco use among youth in India” found that tobacco abuse have increased considerably with enhanced level of exposure to tobacco advertising.

The recent study would certainly help the government in developing a stringent tobacco control initiative with a research-based policy of development.

The organisation in fact carried out its study on students between sixth and eighth standard in Delhi and Chennai comes to a conclusion that marketing and promotion is directly proportional to the increase use to tobacco among individuals and school children. It further identifies that individuals who are more interested in tobacco advertising are more tend to use tobacco.

This study discloses the increasing exposure of tobacco products that results a significant increase in tobacco use among students and hence there is a strong requirement to reduce such influence through better tobacco control policy and prevention programme.

Though the health ministry has taken some initiative in this regard in terms of prohibiting tobacco use in public places, ban on advertising on tobacco product, and no to sell of tobacco to minors or in the vicinity of educational institution; needs to be implemented properly.

Union Minister for Health and Family Affairs, Anbumani Ramadoss earlier in this month has said that government has firmed its stand on National Tobacco Control Authority, NTCA soon after its campaign to implement the rule of ‘Publishing Pictorial Warning’ over tobacco product. However, the case is still waiting clearance from the court

Room following opposition from tobacco lobbying groups preventing public health initiative.

As the recent study establishes connection between tobacco marketing and its amplified use among youths there is an immediate need of certain firm measures to stop those promotion as in most cases affects the psychological aspect.

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Govt to set up National Tobacco Control Authority: Health Minister