STOP UNETHICAL CIGARETTE ADS AIMED AT CHILDREN!

Calling all concerned and proactive individuals:                     We are students from the University of Asia and the Pacific conducting an awareness campaign on the unethical practice of cigarette advertising. We deem that cigarette ads aired during inappropriate times of the day, especially when children are likely to be watching TV or listening to the radio, cause these minors to take up the habit of smoking.           It will be ideal to seek the ban of tobacco advertising in the mass media so that it will be out of reach for minors. However, this seems like a daunting task, if not impossible, since we are going against an industry that is one of the biggest sources of economic revenues. So we propose that tobacco ads be aired only after 11 pm, to diminish the risk of children being exposed to and influenced by these ads. This is why we need your help and support in making this campaign a success. If you agree with our proposal, please sign your name and school or company in our guestbook below.           Together we can make a difference. Together, we can help secure the futures of these affected children and prevent them from succumbing to the addictive habit of smoking. Sincerely, Julette Alon Guia Atilano Gladys Co Neil Trinidad P.S. You can reach us at this email address:  "unethicalcigads@yahoo.com"

WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR TOBACCO ADVERTISING REGULATION? * National Smoking Prevalence Survey shows that 40% of boys and 19% of girls aged 10 to 14 are already daily smokers. Smoking prevalence among Filipinos has more than doubled over the past decade to 18%. * Every year 20,000 Filipinos die from smoking related diseases; every day, 2 Filipinos die every hour. * One of the factors that spur these youth to try smoking consists of the advertisements they see on TV and hear on the radio. One report, which was prepared with the cooperation of the tobacco industry, concludes that "advertising was found to have a statistically significant impact on industry sales." Cigarette advertisements portray smoking as a normal, healthy, fun-filled activity. Children smoke the most heavily advertised brands of cigarettes. * Currently, there is a code of Ethics regarding the regulation of tobacco advertising. The Code of Ethics from the Advertising Content Regulation Committee (ACRC), administered by the Philippine Board of Advertising, is loosely being implemented, if not at all.

* Banning tobacco advertising in Philippine mass media is an important concern because it is tantamount to the ruthless exploitation of minors and the irresponsible promotion of a fatal vice to these vulnerable minors. * There are no national laws prohibiting minors from buying cigarettes.