Rio City Hall warns Rio residents about the risks of smoking among children and adolescents

The City of Rio, through the Municipal Health Department (SMS), draws the attention of Rio residents to the (Child and Adolescent Awareness Day regarding the Risks of Smoking*, celebrated next Sunday, October 11th. The date is an opportunity to strengthen actions to prevent the initiation of smoking, raising awareness among the population about the importance of protecting the new generations from a product that causes addiction and is extremely harmful to the lives of smokers and those who live with them: tobacco.

It is important to note that smoking is considered a pediatric disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), since 90% of smokers try their first cigarette and become addicted by the age of 19. Studies show that adolescent brains are highly vulnerable to tobacco addiction, which tends to set in after the first contact with cigarettes. Nicotine is a drug that causes addiction in approximately 50% to 70% of those who try it.

Children and adolescents represent one of the tobacco industry's favorite targets – which frequently adopts strategies to attract young people and encourage smoking initiation in this age group – to rebuild its consumer market.

Furthermore, new nicotine delivery devices, such as different types of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers, are a major challenge at this time, considering that the media and social networks play an important role in this dissemination and illegal sales in Brazil.

Whistleblower channel

On this Day of Awareness among Children and Adolescents about the Risks of Smoking, the City of Rio once again reinforces the importance of the population's role as another ally in the fight against the irregular display of tobacco products at points of sale, with the aim of attracting children and adolescents.

Anyone who identifies restrictive measures being breached in an establishment can formally register their complaint through the 1746 Call Center, by phone, app or website.

Industry tricks and advances in legislation to combat them

In Brazil, there are numerous efforts to protect present and future generations from the destructive consequences of smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. There are a number of laws that aim to reduce access – mainly by children, adolescents and young people – to tobacco products. Since 2000, for example, cigarette advertising in the media has been prohibited.

Tobacco companies, in turn, have developed several strategies to make their points of sale and packaging more attractive, making them resemble candies, chewing gum and other sweets, to attract the attention of children and teenagers.

In May 2018, the ban was extended to points of sale, and the use of posters or other visual, graphic, sound, sensory, movement or lighting resources to promote tobacco products in establishments is prohibited. Only the display of these products is permitted, but always accompanied by health warnings, messages prohibiting sales to minors and their respective price lists.

It is also prohibited to give gifts and free samples of tobacco products, to engage in cross-selling, to sell over the internet, to sell cigarettes at retail (unit) and to sell electronic cigarettes. In addition, it is a crime to sell cigarettes to minors.

More recently, on May 25 of this year, a regulation came into effect that determines that tobacco derivatives – such as cigarettes, cigarillos, hookahs and cigars – must be kept away from products aimed at children, such as candy, chocolate, chewing gum, sweets in general and toys. The measure aims to reduce exposure and encourage consumption, especially among young people and children.

Partnership for Healthy Cities
The alert on this issue on this Child and Adolescent Awareness Day regarding the Risks of Smoking, with the aim of reinforcing the importance of protecting children and young people from the dangers of cigarettes, is part of the commitment of the City of Rio de Janeiro to the Partnership for Healthy Cities of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies – a global network of cities committed to reducing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are responsible for more than 70% of deaths in Brazil.

This year, the City Hall, through the SMS, renewed its participation in this partnership, also counting on the support of the non-governmental organization ACT Health Promotion. Rio de Janeiro is one of the 70 cities participating in this initiative, which includes more than 300 million people worldwide.

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October 8th, 2020

Appointments: smoking legislation Rio de Janeiro City Hall Municipal Health Department SMS tobacco