American Lung Association Launches Online Photo Campaign To Expose Big Tobacco In Communities Nationwide

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 22 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The American Lung Association has launched an online photo campaign in order to solicit the public's help in exposing the most egregious examples of tobacco advertising to children and teens in communities nationwide. These photos will highlight the urgent need for Congress to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S.625/HR 1108).

The American Lung Association encourages all concerned individuals to expose Big Tobacco in their communities by using digital cameras or cell phones to snap and upload photos of inappropriate tobacco advertising to young people and other targeted populations by visiting the "Healthy Lungs" application on Facebook. The Healthy Lungs application can also be accessed through our website http://www.lungusa.org. Each photo submission must be accompanied by the city and state where it was taken, along with the name of the retail establishment.

"Tobacco companies continue to target young people with advertising," said Bernadette Toomey, President and CEO, American Lung Association. "This pending legislation will finally give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to curb tobacco marketing to youth, to set standards for tobacco products and to require claims made about tobacco products to be truthful."

Some retail locations offer the most shocking examples of advertising to young people. Convenience stores near schools, for example, often feature tobacco advertising near candy displays-and promote candy-flavored cigarettes. Not surprisingly, 1,300 children become regular smokers each day, while smoking remains the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S.

Join the American Lung Association in exposing big tobacco in communities nationwide and encouraging Members of Congress to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act this spring. For more information, visit http://www.lungusa.org.

About the American Lung Association

Beginning our second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while rates of other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is "Improving life, one breath at a time."

American Lung Association