WHAT: US Tobacco Companies spend $11 million PER DAY to promote smoking US Federal Office on Smoking and Health spends less than that PER YEAR "If it was legal to sell to 'em, we'd be glad to. But it's not." --Walker Merryman, Tobacco Institute, WHCS-TV, Portland, Maine, August 5, 1992, in a discussion about tobacco use among youth. FACT: The cigarette companies spent over $5 billion in 1996 on advertising and promotion campaigns -- almost $14 million every day. --Federal Trade Commission, "1998 Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress for 1996, Pursuant to the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act," 1998.   FACT: Teens are more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette advertising than they are by peer pressure. --"Influence of Tobacco Marketing and Exposure to Smokers on Adolescent Susceptibility to Smoking, " Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Ocotber 1995.   FACT: Marlboro, the most heavility advertised brand, constitutes almost 60% of the youth market but only 25% of the adult market. --Centers for Disease control and Prevention, "Changs in the Cigarette Brand Preference of Adolescent Smokers, U.S., 1989-1993," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly --Federal Trade Commission, "1998 Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress for 1996, Pursuant to the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act," 1998.   FACT: Teens are more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette advertising than they are by peer pressure. --"Influence of Tobacco Marketing and Exposure to Smokers on Adolescent Susceptibility to Smoking, " Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Ocotber 1995.   FACT: Marlboro, the most heavility advertised brand, constitutes almost 60% of the youth market but only 25% of the adult market. --Centers for Disease control and Prevention, "Changs in the Cigarette Brand Preference of Adolescent Smokers, U.S., 1989-1993," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly The tobacco industry loses close to 5,000 customers every day in the US alone-- including 3,500 who manage to quit and about 1,200 who die. The most promising "replacement smokers" are young people: 90% of smokers begin before they're 21, and 60% before they're 14! To find their new customers, every day US tobacco companies spend $11 million to advertise and promote cigarettes -- more than the US Federal Office on Smoking and Health spends to prevent smoking in an entire year. US Youth: "Cool" Customers In the US, cigarette advertising links smoking with being "cool", taking risks, and growing up. At the same time the tobacco industry insists that it does not want children to smoke-- and backs up its claims with campaigns supposedly designed to discourage young people from smoking. But programs like "Tobacco: Helping Youth Say No" are not only slick public relations efforts designed to bolster industry credibility, they actually encourage youth tobacco use. By leaving out the health dangers, ignoring addiction, and glamorizing smoking as an "adult custom," these campaigns reinforce the industry's advertising theme presenting smoking as a way for children to exert independence and be grown up. Placement of Tobacco in Stores Tobacco is often located near candy, comic books, and other types children-friendly products. It can often be found at children's eye level or within hands reach. Single cigars are now found on store counters that can be easily acquired or stolen by young people. One might ask why store owners place tobacco where they can be stolen. Doesn't the store owner lose money by doing that? On the contrary, there are no losses experienced by the store owner with tobacco. For every tobacco product stolen, the tobacco industry replaces it free. These types of arrangement are called slotting fees. Their goal is to get people addicted any way they can. Advertising/Promotions The tobacco industry is always marketing their products to the young and impressionable. They have giveaways, free gear, and promise their consumers the life of luxury and prestige. They create images of fantasy and fun that never depict the true dangers of smoking. Smoking in the Media The use of tobacco has been most notorious in the movies we see, on television we watch, and in magazines we subscribe to. Children's cartoon classics produced by Disney such as Alice in Wonderland have historically glamorized tobacco.  Music video artists are notorious for glamourizing tobacco use. Recent video rental hits such as American Beauty, The Fight Club, and Drive Me Crazy have also made smoking look attractive, normal, and something people  do when they're stressed or bothered to cope with life's trials and tribulations. Popular magazines with youth such as Marie Claire, Cosmo, GQ and ESPN rely on much of their advertising coming from Big Tobacco. Tobacco and sports don't mix, but that's not what we'll see during the World Series. Next time you're at the movies, count up the times you see someone light up. Go to your favorite discount store (except Target, they don't carry tobacco. Shop Target!) and notice where the tobacco is located. Look for the deceitful advertising in any popular magazine. You'll be surprised to learn that tobacco marketing is everywhere, everywhere your child wants to be.