Current trends continuing, tobacco related deaths could reach billion people is the warning from the UN’s WHO (World Health Organization.) Emphasizing that tobacco related deaths, (smoking, chew, second-hand exposure etc), is entirely preventable, the Director of WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, Douglas Bettcher, spoke of the risk of a “cataclysmic future” unless further measures are adopted. Mr. Bettcher urged governments of low- and middle-income countries to adopt the same measures that many wealthier nations have already taken to deter people from smoking. “There is no need for this. We have tools to help everyone quit,” Diplomats Traditionally Big Smokers! Having been a smoker but quitting long time ago, I’m personally sensitive to the risks of tobacco and benefits of prevention. Still, I’m leery of highly intrusive measures aimed at prevention. Personally, I avoided tobacco filled restaurants and cafes after I quit, but that was my selection. Manhattan’s smoke filled “cigar bars” had become trendy (went there last time with a group after of UN friends after "diplomatic reception" - ironically diplomats are some of biggest smokers and until recently smoking was evident all around United Nations HQ), but a night of smokey clothes and hair is enough to make it a one-time experience for me. I prefer information campaigns to confront disinformation advertising. Of course, this assumes a more sophisticated consumer. Thus, promotion aimed at teens, and broader advertising that can encompass children and teens is legitimately subject to control by democratic and open societies. Nonetheless, the question is how far do we go in controlling/eliminating “harmful” products/ideas from being advertised. Alcohol is an obvious target. However, how about quick-to-exploit politicians promoting exclusionary or hateful platforms? Tobacco Advertising Aimed at Developing Countries & Poor WHO’s Dr. Bettcher stated that an estimated 6 million people currently die each year from either directly smoking tobacco or being exposed to it, with the victims disproportionately likely to come from poorer countries.:“ It’s not coincidental” that the highest rates are now being found in low- and middle-income countries where access to health care is often limited and many governments have been lax about regulating the tobacco industry. Tobacco companies have ruthlessly and shrewdly moved their targets away from high-income countries in North America and Europe as smoking rates have come down there.” Dr. Bettcher described “a vicious circle of poverty” which traps smokers who contract illnesses and cannot afford decent health care and drain limited family income to pay for treatment or even for cigarettes themselves. Recent Success in Combating: Price & Information Campaigns? Dr. Bettcher stated to the UN News Centre that the most successful measures to reduce demand for smoking are those that have been implemented in affluent countries, such as: raising the prices of products through taxes; enforcing complete bans on smoking in public places; introducing large pictorial warnings on products; and setting up national “quit lines” to advise and support people trying to stop smoking. The Moscow roundtable heard from several countries that have had success recently in reducing demand, including Uruguay, where in the past two years alone there has been a relative reduction of 25 per cent in the prevalence of smoking. Dr. Bettcher offered “Turkey is another good example. It has gone from weak laws 10 years ago to very strict tobacco control laws today and large pictorial warnings.” The Moscow roundtable participants, according to UN News Centre, recommended that, given the strong link between poverty and tobacco use, tackling tobacco use becomes a priority on the development agenda. They also called for all countries to set themselves reduction targets to spur progress on that front. See More Related Reports including: ---“World’s Biggest Killers” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/worlds-biggest-killers/26502 ---“Alcohol Abuse Globally” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/alcohol-abuseglobally-2500000-die/25104 --- By Susan Sacirbey Find me at Face Book at "Diplomatically Incorrect" and "Diplomat Artist" Twitter – DiplomaticallyX