Myanmar, like other Member Countries of the Region is a fertile ground for the tobacco habit and a possible scene of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality explosions by the turn of the century. With the opening of the market economy, multinational tobacco companies came to invest in the country in the 1990s. New cigarette brands were introduced through vast investments on advertisement; hundreds of cigarette advertising billboards were erected in major cities and gradually expanded to rural areas. The cigarettes were sold at relatively cheaper prices than imported cigarettes and the “foreign” brands with colourful pictures attracted many customers. 

According to Myanmar Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (2001/2004/2007), Prevalence of tobacco use among the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th graders of Myanmar students was relatively high. Myanmar Tobacco Control Programme was launched in 2000 and had increased momentum on promotion of community awareness on dangers of tobacco ; measures had also been taken to prohibit cigarette advertisement from TV, radio , billboards, newspapers and all printed articles; but the students were still reporting of seeing pro-ads on billboards, TV , newspapers and magazines. Tobacco Industry has changed its advertising techniques by using indirect advertisements and producing millions of stickers to be seen in many public places. Hence, the students were still exposed to pro-tobacco ads and get confused where they had seen them.

Tobacco -Free schools had been established since 2000 and over (80)% of basic education schools had declared themselves to be tobacco-free.

 “Control of Smoking and Consumption of Tobacco Product Law” was enacted in May, 2006. Came into effect in May, 2007. Between 2001 and 2007, a significant reduction in the proportion of students currently smoked cigarettes is observed (a fall from overall prevalence among 13-15 year olds of 10.2% to 4.9%) but reported use of other tobacco products had increased during the period from 5.7% to 14.1%. The ability to purchase cigarettes in a store had reduced significantly from 72.9% to 23.7%; percent who have been offered “free “cigarettes by a tobacco company had also reduced significantly from 17.1% to 8.7%. There is no change in percent of students receiving education on dangers of tobacco. The GYTS 2007 has shown that  exposure to second-hand smoke still remains high both at home and in public places. Students are still exposed to cigarette advertisement. Enforcement of the national legislation on tobacco control needs to be strengthened, and the National Tobacco Control Program needs to be more comprehensive incorporating measures to reduce smokeless tobacco use and other non-cigarette tobacco products.

Therefore there is an urgent need to promote the tobacco prevention and control program through school-based approach.

Strengthening of tobacco free school programme may be one efficient  strategy to promote sustainable prevention and control of  tobacco among youths.