The Boston Area
Youth Tobacco Action Group, a coalition of about
170 teenagers, is asking Boston-area convenience store owners to
take down tobacco ads in their stores. So far, nine storeowners
have taken down their signs, and a handful of other owners have
agreed to comply.
"The 10-, 11-year-olds are smoking. [I did
this] to help so that the children do not smoke so early," said
Nery Lanzas, a storeowner.
A recent study by the state
Department of Health found that stores within 1,000 feet of
schools display more tobacco ads than those further away.
Brendan McCormick, a spokesperson for Philip Morris, said the
ads are not intended for children, "Our advertising serves to
enhance brand awareness, recognition, and loyalty among adult
smokers. We're working aggressively to prevent youth access."
In January, the attorney general's office issued regulations
that would have banned tobacco ads on the exterior of stores
within 1,000 feet of playgrounds and schools. The regulations
were scheduled to go into effect this month, but the tobacco
industry challenged the regulations in court, saying the stores
didn't have enough time to comply. Attorney General Thomas
Reilly says the regulations should go into effect in February
2000.
Source(s):
The Boston Globe, (8/26/99) "Kicking the ad habit / Youthful coalition asks
store owners to remove sign touting tobacco", Sara Neufeld, Globe Correspondent
[Full Text:
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/238/metro/Kicking_the_ad_habit+.shtml]
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