STUDY FINDS TOBACCO ADS GEARED TO KIDS
By Adnews Staff
A California study has found that tobacco ads appear to be specifically geared to kids in a number of ways. Commissioned by the California Department of Health Services, the study found that stores closer to schools carry more tobacco ads than stores farther away. More than 5,700 stores in the state of California were looked at during March and April. Each store within 1,000 feet of a school had an average of 26.5 ads, while stores more than 1,000 feet away averaged 24. 9. Also, a large number of tobacco ads were placed near candy counters, and many are set lower than three feet where they can be seen better by children. The tobacco industry spends about $6 billion(US) in advertising and promotions a year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Two-thirds of this money is put towards store advertising and other promotional campaigns, while about $800 million is used specifically for point-of-sale. In Canada it is illegal for tobacco companies to advertise, although they are allowed to publicize themselves by sponsoring cultural and sporting events.