The organizations said the campaigns, including those of Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco International, encourage young people to smoke rather than preventing or reducing smoking.

"Despite its rhetoric and public relations, the tobacco industry is not part of the solution. It supports only those measures known not to work, while vigorously opposing measures -- such as raising taxation, complete advertising bans, powerful media campaigns, and smoke-free policies -- that do have an impact on both youth and adult smoking," the heads of the organizations wrote in a statement.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments to end any partnerships with tobacco companies for youth anti-smoking campaigns. The WHO is currently working with nations to develop an international anti-tobacco treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

"While tobacco companies fund and develop their own information campaigns to inform young people that smoking is an 'adult choice,' studies show that, at best, these campaigns have no effect to reduce or prevent youth smoking. In some cases, they may actually encourage young people to smoke," said Gro Harlem Brundtland, director general of WHO.

In response to the allegations, Brendan McCormick, manager of media relations at Phillip Morris USA, said, "Society expects us to play an active role on this issue. The types of programs we sponsor are the kinds that experts say have the potential to reduce youth smoking."

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