The marketing of tobacco, alcohol, and processed foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and/or salt greatly contributes to the increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in Africa.

It’s been reported that the number of smokers in Africa is projected to grow from 77 million in 2013 to roughly 600 million or more by 2100. Tobacco companies marketing directly to low-income groups, women and children remains a major challenge. Alcohol companies follow a similar line, and alcohol consumption is rising in developing countries. Unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are often marketed as an aspirational lifestyle choice in most sub-Saharan African countries.

At the ACA, we promote whole-of-government responses to NCD and work with diverse stakeholders to make sure that people have the information needed to protect themselves from the tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food environment. Through our work, we hope to contribute to creating enabling environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice.