[Intl-tobacco] Russia: Anti-smoking campaign launched in St. Petersburg. (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

by (Itar-Tass) via NewsEdge 
Source: NewsEdge, Monday, 5/22/00
 
ST.PETERSBURG, May 19 (Itar-Tass) via NewsEdge Corporation - The biggest
tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, J.T.  
International and Reemtsma, have launched a campaign in St.Petersburg with
the aim to limit tobacco sale to adolescents.

A special anti-smoking programme will be realised in 63 big cities of
Russia where a broad advertisement campaign will be launched to warn
visitors of shopping areas about a threat to human health caused by
smoking. Tobacco producers are guided by the " Code of the marketing
responsibility" which strictly specifies the age of tobacco consumers,
proceeding from the general assumption that smoking might be a choice
consciously made by a grown-up person only.

According to representatives of tobacco producing companies, the
anti-smoking programme has been tested in Moscow where the assigned
information was advertised on around 70 shopping areas in the capital. The
organizers of the anti- smoking campaign are hoping that salesmen,
parents, teachers and the city authorities and broad public circles will
pool their efforts to achieve the goal. Russian lawmakers have a subject
to think over now; in ninety world countries age restrictions of tobacco
consumption have been in effect.

ere/ast