Retail Advertising Increases Smoking - American Academy Of Pediatrics

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 20 Jul 2010 - 0:00 PDT


Teens who visit stores with cigarette advertising at least twice a week are significantly more likely to start smoking, according to the study, "A Longitudinal Study of Exposure to Retail Cigarette Advertising and Smoking Initiation," published in the August print issue of Pediatrics (published online July 19).

Researchers studied 1,681 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years who had never smoked. The study authors focused on how often teens visited convenience, liquor and small grocery stores. These types of stores near schools were then assessed for the quantity of cigarette ads and pack displays. Overall, 18 percent of adolescents in the study started smoking. But among teens who visited the stores with the greatest amount of cigarette advertising at least twice a week, the rate of smoking initiation was 29 percent. Of teens who visited such stores less than twice per month, only 9 percent began smoking. The authors noted that unless retail promotion of tobacco products is addressed, the declines recently seen in smoking initiation are likely to end.

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics

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