Prathap Costa
Contents
Background
Prathap Costa, identified by the name Costa Maarley, is a rapper, producer, vocalist, and a beatmaker from Kandy, Sri Lanka[1] and currently living in Helsinki, Finland [2] He studied at Trinity College, Kandy. He started his music career with the formation of a band named S1 Crew. [3]
Tobacco-Related Activities
His music videos contain numerous scenes of smoking tobacco, some depicting specific brand names as well.
- Batanala Music Video and Lyrics[4]
- Dopamine Music video[5] This video contains depiction of smoking and the brand names of the cigarettes are shown. This video also features cannabis, alcohol and vape products.
Promotion via Facebook
There were several promotional material on his music posted in his Facebook profile depicting images of smoking.[1][2] Gallery:
Image 3: Excerpt from Costa Maarley Facebook page published on 10 January 2024
Image 4: Excerpt from Costa Maarley Facebook page published on 30 November 2023
Image 5: Excerpt from Costa Maarley Facebook page published on 23 November 2023
Image 6: Excerpt from Costa Maarley Facebook page published on 15 November 2023
Image 7: Excerpt from Costa Maarley Facebook page published on 11 August 2022
Implications
Multiple research studies have shown that exposure to portrayal of tobacco products or their use in television and in movies is associated with initiation of smoking among viewers, especially among adolescents and youth, and sustenance of smoking among current smokers.[6]A large body of evidence suggests that tobacco industry is known to have commissioned celebrities to promote tobacco and related products in media and through entertainment activities.[7]
National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act No 27 of 2006 is the main legal framework for tobacco and alcohol control in Sri Lanka. Section 35 of the NATA Act prohibits tobacco and alcohol advertisements and promotion in media including ‘the internet’. NATA Act defines tobacco advertisements as, “any writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or distinctive colours or other visual image or any audible message or any combination of the aforesaid that promotes or is intended to promote – smoking, the purchase or use of a tobacco product, a trade mark registered in respect of a tobacco product or articles that include tobacco products, a brand name associated with a tobacco product, the name of the manufacturer of a tobacco product.” Thus, portrayal of tobacco products and their use has a negative effect on tobacco control measures in the country and violates the NATA Act.
In addition, tobacco control laws in Finland, where he is currently residing, prohibit promotion of any kind of tobacco product. However, the Finnish law states that it can be implemented only if the content is visible to the people living in Finland’s territory. [8]
TobaccoUnmasked Resources
The local language translations
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Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Costa Maarley. Official Facebook Page, Undated, accessed May 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Prathap Costa. Prathap Costa Personal Facebook Profile, Undated, accessed May 2024.
- ↑ Sirasa TV. Prathap & Anushka (S1 Crew) Sirasa Looks Like Interview, 27 May 2011, accessed May 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Costa YouTube Channel. Costa - Batanala (Official Music Video), 04 Jan 2020, accessed May 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 TROUBLEMAKERS GANG YouTube Channel Kao$ X Costa - Dopamine (Official Music Video), 10 November 2023, accessed June 2024
- ↑ M Bennett et all. Exposure to tobacco content in episodic programs and tobacco and E-cigarette initiation, October 2020, accessed August 2024
- ↑ A. Charlesworth, S. Glantz. Tobacco and the Movie Industry, 2006, accessed August 2024
- ↑ Tobacco Act Finland Translation from Finnish, legally binding only in Finnish and Swedish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland, Undated, accessed May 2024
