An NGO, School of Preventive Oncology (SPO), today urged the Centre to impose a ban on advertisement of tobacco-related products on the television channels in order to reduce the use of cigarettes and related substances by the women and youth of the country.
There were advertisements being broadcast on the television channels seeking to attract the women and youths to consume cigarette and other tobacco products by describing them as 'light', 'mild' and 'low tar' cigarette, the SPO's Bihar Chapter coordinator Gupteshwar Gupta said at a function on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day in Patna.
There should an immediate ban on such advertisements aimed at encouraging the women and youths to use such substances which cause detriment to their health, he said.
The governments should also formulate policies for a complete ban on advertisement, promotion and sponsorship by the companies producing tobacco products, Gupta said.
There should be cent percent smoke-free public places and depiction of gender-specific graphic health warning on all tobacco products , besides other specific approaches in education and advocacy campaign, the Bihar chapter SPO coordinator said.
As per the National Family Health Survey data some 52% male and seven per cent women in Bihar above 15-year-old use some sort of tobacco substance.
