Study Finds that Banning Tobacco Advertising is Effective in Reducing Smoking

February 10, 2025 TruthUSA

A ban on smoking advertising and promotional material has been shown to be effective in reducing smoking rates, as indicated by a recent study.

A recent study has found that the ban on tobacco advertising effectively reduces the prevalence of smoking, primarily by limiting exposure to potential new smokers.

The Griffith University study, published in the British Medical Journal’s Tobacco Control, analyzed data from 71 countries to examine the impact of banning tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) on smoking rates and behaviors.

The study revealed that a TAPS ban could lead to a 20 percent reduction in the prevalence of smoking over a 5–10 year period.

Additionally, the ban decreased the likelihood of individuals taking up smoking by 37 percent.

“According to the 2022 Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than one in ten Australian adults currently smoke,” said Christina Saad, the study’s lead author.

“Tobacco use remains as the second leading cause of preventable disease and death in Australia, so it is encouraging to see the impact of TAPS bans on smoking behavior.”

“However, our research did not find clear evidence that the TAPS ban significantly helped individuals quit smoking.”

The study suggested that “tobacco marketing and promotion generally encourage consumers to start smoking,” indicating that TAPS bans function more as a preventive measure rather than a cessation tool.

Smoking in Australia

Currently, 11.1 percent of Australian adults are smokers, according to Tobacco in Australia.

From 1995 to 2023, the smoking prevalence among Australian adults decreased by 63 percent. This decline aligned with public education campaigns aimed at discouraging smoking since the early 80s.

Tobacco use has been linked to various diseases, contributing to 70 percent of lung cancer, COPD, laryngeal cancer cases, and 47 percent of lip, oral cavity, and esophageal cancer cases.

The most recent statistics from AIHW showed that tobacco use was responsible for 20,500 deaths in 2018, accounting for 13 percent of all deaths.

The Future of Tobacco

The National Tobacco Strategy by the Department of Health and Aged Care aims to achieve a national daily smoking prevalence of less than 10 percent by 2025 and 5 percent or less by 2030 in Australia, with a target of reducing the daily smoking rate among First Nations people to 27 percent or less by 2030 for individuals aged 18 and over.

The prevalence of smokers continues to decline, but there are additional measures that can be taken to support smoking cessation.

The AIHW report revealed that 28 percent of smokers attempted to quit without success in 2022-2023. However, 19.8 percent were able to quit for more than one month, and an additional 39 percent reduced their daily tobacco consumption.

Strategies to Cut Down and Quit Smoking

According to the AIHW report, 62 percent of smokers employed strategies and engaged in activities to reduce or quit smoking.

Common strategies included quitting “cold turkey” (complete nicotine cessation) or using e-cigarettes as an alternative method to reduce and quit smoking.

Others utilized nicotine gum, patches, and other nicotine products as substitutes for smoking.

The Cancer Council NSW offers a range of strategies and plans for quitting smoking, including prescription medications to manage withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, and anxiety.

Professional support is also available for those looking to quit smoking. Various services and hotlines are accessible, such as Quitline, which can be reached via the website or by calling 13 78 48.

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