Sir, - The debate by Mr Bob Quinn and Mr Tom Harper in your letters column on banning advertising of toys on RTE because that advertising is supporting "sweat-shop" employment in the Far-East in the manufacturing of toys is interesting. If they are really concerned about the welfare of children perhaps they and others might turn their attention to RTE's policy (through the RTE Guide) of promoting tobacco to children in this country. The RTE Guide is the largest-selling magazine in the country. Every week, this family magazine carries at least one full-page advertisement for tobacco products, almost always on the outside back page. The editor of the magazine targets the magazine towards children: last week's front cover had a large picture of Boyzone (back to back with a full-page tobacco advertisement), with an article on the group inside. Every week the magazine carries a feature on some pop group and has a Kid's Corner section.
Tobacco advertising has been shown to be effective in influencing children to smoke. The tobacco industry needs to recruit at least 25 new smokers every day in this country to replace either those who die from tobacco diseases or those who successfully quit their addiction. Since 80 per cent of addicted smokers begin smoking before they are I8, young people are a prime target for the tobacco industry's advertising campaigns.
Over the past few years many organisations and individuals with an interest in the public health have called on RTE to cease promoting tobacco to our children through the RTE Guide. Its silence would suggest that commercial considerations are more important than the health and weld being of our children. It is well past the time that the members of the RTE Authority took their responsibilities seriously on this issue. - Yours, etc.,
European Medial Association Smoking and Health (EMASH), Laytown, Co Meath.