Approximately one of every five American deaths results from smoking. True, the overall decline in smoking continues, but the decline is slower among women than among men. Smoking also continues to be higher among minorities, blue-collar workers, the less educated, and the young. Alarmingly Americans are beginning to smoke earlier in life. Nearly all start smoking when they are teenagers.
Young smokers consume nearly one billion packs of cigarettes a year.
Cigarette ads make smoking seem glamorous and make young people feel that smoking is not only OK, but is essential to be accepted. The industry must recruit 5,000 new smokers most of them children each day to replace those who quit or die from a tobacco-related disease. Tobacco advertising cleverly targets women, youth, and minorities. The most offensive campaigns represent smoking as an adult, sophisticated behavior. This appeals to many youngsters.