School is back in session. While the students are grumbling, the tobacco industry is gearing up their advertising to entice youth to become new smokers.
According to a study, 75 percent of teenagers visit a convenience store at least once a week. The tobacco industry is very aware of this statistic, and it spends billions of dollars on advertising in retail environments every year. Through brightly lit displays, colorful signs, special promotions, and their location behind the cash register, the tobacco industry makes sure children see its products. This marketing bombardment in stores makes children think that smoking is completely normal, even though only 18.1 percent of adults in New York state smoke.
As your children get back into their school routines, please talk to them about the negative impacts of smoking and about the advertisements they may see. For more information, visit countertobacco.org or realitycheckofny.com.
LOU ANN PIOLI
Johnstown