Posted by Ann Tobacco companies are attracting young smokers even without billboards and cartoon characters like Joe Camel, researchers said Monday in urging new advertising restrictions. Teen-agers surveyed over the past two years vividly recalled ads featuring carefree smokers. Many of the youth also underestimated the health risks and addictions of smoking, researchers said. Banning pictures from ads would help end the image that smoking is fun and give marketing campaigns about tobacco dangers a chance to work, said Dan Romer, a research director at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center. Romer and leaders of antitobacco groups said findings in the new study should be used to lobby states and the federal government to restrict tobacco advertising. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a constitutional challenge of state curbs on tobacco ads. Legislation is pending in Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco. Each year, an estimated 1 million minors take up smoking. "Tobacco companies lend an image to their products that is exactly what young people are looking for," said Danny McGoldrick, research director for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Any government regulation "Needs to be balanced with preserving our ability to communicate with adult smokers," said Brendan McCormic, spokesman for cigarette maker Philip Morris Inc. "We think our advertising is responsible," said Mark Smith, a spokesman for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Crop. "The changes have been dramatic. Unfortunately there are those.....you'll never satisfy."
on 6/13/2001, 10:23 am
The Morning Journal
Lorain, Ohio
Washington (AP)
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