SOS tabac Niger cancels the “cigar jazz” concert

Every year, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars worldwide on advertising, promotion and sponsorship. African countries represent growing markets for tobacco manufacturers who deploy marketing strategies that are often illicit. In Niger, the association SOS tabac Niger has just had the "cigar jazz" concert banned by the courts.

Niger has regulations prohibiting the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products[1]. Yet the tobacco industry continues to promote its products there.

In October 2020, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Niamey launched a campaign to organize a “Cigare Jazz” evening planned for the weekend of October 30, 2020. The SOS Tabagisme du Niger association took legal action against the organizer, Radisson Blue in Niamey.[2].

On October 30, ruling on the request of SOS TABAGISME of Niger, the Niamey Court of First Instance ordered the outright banning of this “Cigare Jazz” evening. The ban is accompanied by a penalty payment of 500,000 CFA francs per day in the event of refusal to enforce the decision.[3]

SOS Tabagisme du Niger is not at its first trial against the tobacco industry and its allies. In 2002, this association had successfully sued[4] five international tobacco companies for violating legislation banning tobacco advertising in Niger.

The SOS Tabagisme-Niger association is the first anti-tobacco organization in Niger. It was created in 1999 and its activities really began in the early 2000s. For more than 20 years, this association has been implementing measures to protect populations against the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.[5] According to its President, Mr Inoussa SAOUNA, his association is determined to develop legal actions to force the tobacco industry and its allies to respect the law.

A few decades ago, Niger was spared from the tobacco epidemic. Today, the prevalence of tobacco affects nearly 9% of 13-15 year olds and 18% of adult men [6]

Keywords: Niger, Advertising, Justice

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] Article 8 of Law No. 2006-12 of May 15, 2006 relating to the fight against tobacco, Niger, Tobacco Control Laws, accessed November 2, 2020 [2] Anti-smoking campaign: the SOS Tabagisme association has cancelled a concert planned at the Radisson Blu hotel in Niamey Niger, Ici Niger, October 30, 2020, consulted on November 2, 2020 ^[3] Certificate of order issued by the court on October 30, 2020 [4] Trial against tobacco companies in Niger, Magazine of the 1st international French-speaking conference on tobacco control, number 1, February 26, 2002, consulted on November 2, 2020 [5] Anti-Tobacco Fight in Niger: "Tobacco Is the Only Legal Product on Sale in the World That Kills One in Two of Its Consumers," Notes Mr. Saouna Idi Inoussa, President of the SOS Tabagisme-Niger Association, ATCA, June 24, 2020, accessed November 2, 2020 [6] http://www.cres-sn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mont-note-de-politique-Niger-BD.pdf International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease