African youth, prey to the tobacco industry

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2020 focuses on industry marketing practices: Protecting young people from industry manipulation and preventing them from using tobacco and nicotine. The tobacco industry's marketing offensives are particularly targeted at low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa.

The objectives of the 2020 edition of the JMST are:

- Debunk the myths conveyed by manufacturers through their advertising and denounce the manipulative tactics used, in particular marketing tactics targeting young people, in particular through the introduction of new products, the use of flavors and other attractive features.

- Provide youth with knowledge about the tobacco and nicotine industries' intentions and tactics to "hook" current and future generations to tobacco and nicotine products.

- Empower influencers (in pop culture, on social media, at home or in the classroom) to protect and advocate for young people and catalyze change by engaging them in the fight against the industry.

In Africa for example, 60% of the population is under 24 years old and according to World Bank 2018 statistics, sub-Saharan Africa has nearly 1.1 billion inhabitantsIt is predicted that by 2050, the continent's population will reach 2.4 billion inhabitants and only 35 % young people in the world will be Africans. Given these figures, it is not surprising to note that Africa represents a very lucrative market today and potentially for the tobacco industry.

Tobacco companies have pledged not to market their products to children. Yet that is exactly what they are doing in Africa, according to an ACTA study.[1], tobacco companies actively market cigarettes around schools in an effort to expand their markets. To achieve this, products are offered for purchase in bulk, by the stick, and with a focus on “kid-friendly” flavored cigarettes. Children as young as six years old have access to tobacco products at kiosks, grocery stores, and street vendors. Selling, advertising, and promoting cigarettes near but outside of schools is a well-orchestrated strategy by tobacco companies. They are trying to hook schoolchildren in an environment away from their parents where peer pressure is exerted. They are trying to create a pool of replacement smokers.

In this perspective, World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity for tobacco control advocates to join forces to raise awareness among young people and ensure that the tobacco industry's traditional and more innovative strategies are deciphered. These strategies include all of their actions aimed at undermining the implementation of the WHO Framework ConventionThe latter is characterised in particular by measures which specifically protect young people from falling into the trap of smoking.

To read the statement in its entirety

©Tobacco Free Generation

[1] Statement by Leonce SESSOU, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Tobacco Control in Africa (ACTA). ACTA is a pan-African network of non-profit, non-political civil society organizations headquartered in Lomé, Togo. With members located in 39 countries, ACTA is dedicated to promoting public health and preventing the tobacco epidemic on the continent.

©National Committee Against Smoking |