  |
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Posted by Susan Carney May 30, 2008 |
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, so this is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about the health risks of smoking. There are a variety of reasons why kids start to smoke: peer pressure, boredom, depression, curiosity. In my opinion, targeted advertising is the number one factor.
The focus of this year’s event is the promotion of a complete ban on all tobacco advertising. According to the World No Tobacco Day website, “Globally, most people start smoking before the age of 18, with almost a quarter of those beginning before the age of 10.” I knew most kids started before age 18, and that was bad enough. But I never realized how many kids start even younger. Before age 10? If you don’t believe it, check out this video on the website. It’s a little hard to watch, but it certainly makes a point.
Yes, tobacco companies need our young people. When you market a product that essentially kills your customers, you need to recruit a new batch of customers on a regular basis. Since so few people take up the smoking habit as adults, kids are often an easy target.
Check out the World No Tobacco Day website for website and campaign and media materials you can use anytime, as well as a link to a really cool Tobacco-Free Youth Interactive website that shows the myriad ways tobacco is marketed to kids. For more info on this subject, you may also want to check out Teen Tobacco Prevention, Tobacco Advertising and Teens, and New Cigarette Targets Girls.