Mind Bogglers in Tobacco:
The Slow Death of a Generation

From 1966 to 1998, cigarette smoking decreased in the general population dropping from 43% to 25%. But in a recent study released on November 17, 1998 by the Harvard School of Public Health, college smoking has increased 28% since 1993. The 1993 rate was 22.3% and the 1997 rate increased to 28.5% This could be indicating a return to an increase in smoking among adults, which is cause for alarm for our future generations.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates that almost 90% of first time smokers are under the age of 18.

Big tobacco spends $4.83 BILLION a year on marketing, which is $13.2 Million daily, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Since tobacco ads do not usually affect the adult smoker who is already "hooked" and loyal to their brands, it doesn't take much to guess which group is being targeted by this much advertising money daily.

If tobacco companies were truly concerned about the young people who take up smoking, it would seem that a reduction in the billions spent on targeted advertising would be in order. Giving away premiums of "cool" merchandise plastered with still more blatant advertising aimed at youngsters is based on proof of purchase of tobacco products. Tobacco moguls should cease this type of marketing if they are truly sincere in stopping our youth from smoking.

Smoking is responsible for more than 400,000 deaths in America yearly and is already the leading cause of death in the U.S. Every day 3,000 young people under 18 begin smoking and a third of them will die early (5,000,000+) from a tobacco related illness. Is tobacco destined to be the great population reducer of the future? Is this an example of "he who dies with the most toys is the winner" mentality? With premium merchandising being heavily employed, it would seem to be the mantra of the future as tobacco companies vie to produce the best "cool stuff" for the kids to covet, gathering up points for acquisition of the advertising merchandise.

Complaints about higher cigarette prices have been many and voluble, but as Surgeon General David Satcher said in February 1998, "Some studies show that for every 10 percent increase in price, there's a 7% decrease in smoking with children and 4 percent decrease in adults." Any deterrent to smoking should not be looked upon as a freedom taken away, but a new lease on life… life saved by not smoking, especially when it comes to our youngsters.

Source: http://quitsmoking.about.com/library/weekly/aa051099.htm