Jump to full article: MERCOPRESS (uy), 2006-08-19
Author: Renata Stepanov The Santiago Times
Intro: Chile’s new “Marlboro Man” is Don Miguel, 70, a former cigarette addict and cancer survivor whose larynx was removed ten years ago.
A photograph of Don Miguel revealing the hole in his throat, along with a warning about the dangers of smoking, will cover half the surface area of all cigarette boxes sold in Chile within three months.
Miguel was an anti-smoking activist long before the Health Ministry asked him to be the poster boy for its campaign to cut back Chile’s tobacco consumption, the highest in Latin America. Monday marked the start of the campaign with a new government prohibition against smoking in public places and the sale of cigarettes to minors under 18, as well as regulations on tobacco advertising.
Speaking through a tube in his throat, Miguel has given his personal history to thousands of high school students across Chile . . .
The new Chilean law passed in May goes hand in hand with Miguel’s outreach to youth. Since 37% of Chile’s youth under 15 report smoking daily several of the new law’s measures are aimed directly at the under-18 demographic. In addition to outlawing sales to youth under the age of 18, cigarettes are prohibited within 100 meters of elementary and middle schools, and within 300 meters of high schools. Education and prevention are also on the agenda. By March 2007 all schools will teach students the dangers of smoking.
Chile is only the third country in South America - after Brazil and Uruguay - to impose significant restrictions on cigarette use and distribution.
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