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Retail Tobacco Advertising Survey Press Release: July 5, 2005 |
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TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ted Schiele, 607-274-6712, tschiele@tompkins-co.org TOBACCO ADVERTISING IS A RETAIL FIXTURE IN TOMPKINS COUNTY
SURVEY SHOWS Cigarette advertising can be found at nearly every retail outlet licensed to sell tobacco in central New York. And over half of retailers that sell tobacco display cigarette ads outside of the store according to survey results recently released by the New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program (NYS TCP) and by T-Free: Tobacco Free Tompkins, a NYS TCP grant funded Community Partner based at the Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD). The survey was conducted for NYS TCP by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of Research Triangle, NC. Cigarette point of purchase (POP) advertising — branded signs and posters on display within the retail environment — is much more likely to influence teens than adults according to a survey conducted for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. In fact when it comes to teen smoking, cigarette ads have more of an influence than peer pressure. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that tobacco advertising and promotion can be directly related to adolescent smoking. The prevalence of POP advertising for cigarettes also reduces current smokers resolve to either quit or consider quitting, and encourages former smokers to resume smoking. In central New York, 97 percent of retail outlets licensed to sell tobacco display interior cigarette ads, with an average of 17 cigarette ads posted in each store according to the RTI study. Fifty-six percent displayed cigarette ads outside the store, including window signs, freestanding signs, and signs displayed on gas pumps. Those stores had an average of 4 outdoor ads each. In Tompkins County, close to two-thirds of adults report seeing tobacco ads all or most of the time when they shop at convenience stores, gas stations or supermarkets, according to a separate survey conducted for T-Free in June 2004. Those age 18–24 are most likely to report seeing ads, and those over age 65 are least likely to report seeing tobacco ads when they shop. T-Free coordinator Ted Schiele does not think this is coincidental. “The tobacco industry targets the younger population,” he said. “The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between Big Tobacco and the states seeks to restrict ads aimed at kids under 18, but that has not stopped the industry from going after new, young customers. The ads are designed to attract young eyes.” Domestic cigarette companies spent $12.47 billion nationwide on advertising and promotion in 2002 according to the Federal Trade Commission, up 30 percent from 2000. Point of purchase (POP) advertising accounted for just over 2 percent of the 2002 total, while nearly 11 percent went to promotional allowances paid to retailers. All together the cigarette manufacturers spent almost 80 percent of their 2002 marketing dollars in stores, where the industry is relatively free from regulation. Tobacco ads — in particular those for popular brands like Marlboro and Camel — make smoking more appealing to adolescents. And tobacco ads reinforce the notion that smoking is acceptable. Tobacco ads in convenience stores give teens the perception that they have easier access to cigarettes, according to a study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. Three-quarters of teens shop at convenience stores at least once a week, making regular exposure to tobacco ads almost certain. Everyday 4,000 children under age 18 try cigarettes nationwide, and 2,000 become regular smokers. Nearly nine-in-ten adults who have ever smoked tried their first cigarette before age 18. The RTI study surveyed 470 stores in Central New York. Statewide, 2,266 stores were surveyed. The survey sample was randomly selected from the over 26,000 businesses statewide that are licensed to collect cigarette tax. The sample design accounted for the national distribution of cigarette sales by outlet type and the distribution of outlets in New York State. The RTI study provided baseline data for a second survey being conducted through 2005. Cigarette smoking remains the greatest preventable cause of death and chronic disease nationally and worldwide. Tompkins County is home to nearly 15,000 adult smokers who consume just over 10,000 packs of cigarettes a day according to T-Free’s June 2004 survey. The local toll of medical costs and lost productivity attributable to Tompkins County’s smoking habit exceeds $36 million annually based on NYS TCP statistics and U.S. Census data. T-Free: Tobacco Free Tompkins is a partnership of community organizations
and individuals who believe a tobacco free community is a healthier,
more productive community. T-Free is working to reduce the social
and economic burden of tobacco use in Tompkins County, and to: ### END ###
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Web master TC Health Department Health Promotion Program Tompkins County Home Page T-Free: Tobacco Free Tompkins is funded by a NYSDOH grant to the Tompkins County Health Department (Page updated 2/24/09) |