When a pregnant woman is exposed to secondhand smoke, her unborn baby is also exposed. Babies of mothers exposed to secondhand smoke have nicotine in their hair at birth. Smoke-filled rooms can have up to 6 times the air pollution as a busy highway. The tobacco industry is targeting youth, women and minorities to replace the 3,500 smokers that quit and the 1,200 smokers who die each day. Teens are twice as likely to be influenced to smoke by advertising and promotion of cigarettes than they are by pressure from peers and family members, demographic characteristics or school performance.
Longitudinal evidence shows that tobacco industry advertising and promotions increase youth smoking.
A recent development within the targeted marketing arena is the introduction of population specific brands of cigarettes. Other strategies utilized in targeted marketing include sponsorship of cultural events, such as Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth and Asian American New Year's celebrations, and philanthropy or financial contributions to political, social and artistic organizations representing these communities. A Guide to Developing Policy . Gender-specific messages, images, and brands of cigarettes coupled with advertising in women's magazines and sponsorship of women's events are the primary strategies used by the tobacco industry to increase the number of women smokers. A Guide to Developing Policy .