Time to ban cigarette ads in shops - Smokefree Coalition

[The Straight Story]

Time to ban cigarette ads in shops - Smokefree Coalition

New Zealand

The Government should ban cigarette advertising in shops to prove it is serious about reducing youth smoking, the Smokefree Coalition says.

Exposure to tobacco advertising increased the likelihood a child would start to smoke, coalition director Mark Peck said today.

"The Government has until the end of February to respond to a health select committee recommendation that the display on these deadly products be banned at retail outlets.

"For a country that has led the world in tobacco control, it's become an embarrassment that New Zealand still allows cigarettes to be advertised in such a blatant fashion to our most vulnerable citizens."

Cigarette displays were an effective marketing tool for the tobacco industry, Mr Peck said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4849580a11.html

I can't think of anyone I know who started smoking because of an ad in a store. Or drinking for that matter. Or buying mountain dew.

I see a ton of ads in the paper and on tv and I am not rushing out to try all those things.

And yes I was young once and saw a lot more ads for smoking and drinking (I still remember the 'you can call me ray' ads and the 'head for the mountains' beer ads and it never got me to want to drink then).

Meh.

[rcrush]

1. I saw all those ads while I was young but I didnt start smoking till I was 20

Something about working all the time and being in college did it.

[ixion]

2. the old addage applies: "give'em an inch and they'll take a mile"

they have moved forward steadily, and will never be satisfied until they get their way.

And by 'they' I refer very specifically to anti-smoking zealots.

[pleah]

3. I think you are absolutely right about that.

And, it won't stop there,either. They are the new prohibitionists. Once they are done with smokers, they will attack another group.

[Bake]

4. As long as it's a legal product, they should be able to advertise.

The Smoke Nazis just don't want to look like prohibitionists -- yet.

Bake

[sandnsea]

5. If ads aren't effective, why have them

makes no difference apparently. It'll save the cig manufacturer money and make them cheaper. Why fight it?

[The Straight Story]

9. Well then shouldn't they be the one making that choice? (nt)

[sandnsea]

11. Shouldn't you be mad paying for it?

I'd be a lot madder about money being wasted and making the cost of a product higher. How come you're not mad that they're wasting your money on advertising that doesn't work?

[The Straight Story]

12. Because that is tiny compared to the insane taxes on them, AND

The marketing is directed at people who already smoke to get them to switch brands, just like car ads are aimed at people who want to buy a car or already have one (and not aimed at getting people to quit taking the bus or bike).

There are many products I don't use that advertise and it has no affect on me, but if I already used the product it might get me to try a variant of it.

So while it may not work to get new people, it may well work to shift funds from one tobacco company to another.

[sandnsea]

13. Taxes?

Your taxes don't cover the cost of your daughter and wife's health care. You're getting a helluva deal.

No company advertises for no reason. They advertise because it works. Anything we can do to keep our kids away from cigarettes, we ought to be thrilled to do. Stop being so damn selfish.

[The Straight Story]

14. I thought keeping kids away from things was the job of parents?

I see ads for many things kids should not have, I don't see the point in banning those either.

Have a problem with putting said ads in the candy aisle or during commercial breaks for cartoons, etc - ok. But an outright ban is just silly.

[sandnsea]

15. So be a good parent

And help keep this crap away from your daughter. Would you want heroin ads up, even if we had needle exchanges and legalized heroin clinics?

[leftofthedial]

6. they should ban cigarette advertising on cigarette packaging.

plain brown wrappers.

And you should have to sign for them like you do for sudafed and whatnot.

And there should be a segregated "leper" line to buy them.

[NeedleCast]

7. I wish they'd stop this step-by-step shit

The Ban Brigade wants to make smoking illegal. Period. I grow weary of this incremental bullshit.

[applegrove]

8. Not only can you not advertise cigarettes in Ontario but you cannot display them.

They have to be covered. And you are not supposed to show them to people who are ordering their cigs. Once they make a decision you can then hand them the smoke.

As a former smoker I am a little torn about this. But really I do think the whole anti-smoking movement will save a few lives. So good for them.

[rucky]

10. What if it's a tobacco shop?

[jmowreader]

16. Kids don't need ads to start smoking

Kids aren't stupid. They know what cigarettes are, what they're used for and why. They see people smoking all the time.

If I were to make a Crazy People-style Truth in Advertising ad about cigarettes--"These cigarettes taste like shit, they make you smell like a full ashtray, you'll have to give up a lot of other fun things because you'll have to spend all your money on cigarettes, it'll be disgusting to kiss you, you'll eventually hate ever having started smoking but you'll never be able to quit"--kids would still start smoking.

I wonder if it's possible to make a special cigarette tobacco that contains absolutely no nicotine. You'd use this tobacco to make Smoking Aversion cigarettes. Take your seven-year-old to the back porch, have him inhale a whole Smoking Aversion cigarette (all the bad things about smoking, none of the pleasure), and he will probably never do it again.