Kathmandu, January 6:

Advertisements for cigarettes and alcoholic products send wrong messages to children and influence their behaviour, a study conducted by the Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) in the valley says.

According to the study, advertisements for such products impact the children the most if they are aired on TV.

Advertisements for alcohol and cigarettes published in newspapers have 33.7 per cent impact, advertisements displayed on hoarding boards have 31.5 per cent impact, magazines’s impact is 29.9 per cent, feature films have 24 per cent and wall writings have 17.7 per cent impact on the children, the study states.

Journalist Yubaraj Ghimire, who made the study public with singer Premdhoj Pradhan today, said ads for alcohol and cigarettes affect the minds of children. Gauri Pradhan, the CWIN chairperson, said, “Advertisements with social messages should be promoted instead of alcohol and tobacco advertisements.” Pradhan urged the celebrities not to model in advertisements for cigarettes and alcohol as the advertisements featuring them have more impact on the children. Krishna Malla, the chairperson of the Film Development Board, said the board would soon take initiatives to discourage alcohol and tobacco advertisements.

Such ads affect the children and youths alike, said Bhaskar Raj Karnikar, president, Advertisement Agencies’ Association of Nepal.