Washington, D.C., -- On
World No Tobacco Day, May 31, the Pan American Health
Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is calling on
countries throughout the Americas to ban tobacco advertising, promotion
and sponsorship. Such bans are one of the most effective ways to reduce
consumption of tobacco, which kills some 1 million people every year in
this hemisphere.

Only five countries in the Americas have total
bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The first to
implement such a ban was Panama (in 2008), followed by Colombia (2009),
Brazil (2011, but regulations are pending), Chile (2013) and Suriname
(in June 2013). Seven other countries...