Cigarettes are one of the most heavily marketed consumer products in America. This represents an increase in spending of almost 16 times since 1970, when advertising on radio and television was banned. An estimated 430,700 Americans die each year from diseases caused by smoking. While tobacco products have been mass produced and marketed for decades, it has taken many years for their deadly effects to be scientifically documented.
Tobacco is the only legal product that causes death and disability when used as intended.
Advertising and promotion for tobacco products often are misleading and deceptive. Tobacco advertising and promotion project images of smoking as fun, sexy, glamorous, macho, and, most insidiously, healthful. The tobacco industry is the second largest advertiser in the print media, including magazines and newspapers, and the largest advertiser on billboards. Persuasive advertising and promotion add to the difficulties of those trying to quit smoking by projecting the impression that smoking is a normal activity indulged by almost everyone. Another strategy of tobacco advertisers is to mount aggressive campaigns aimed at specific segments of the population, such as youth, women, African Americans, Hispanics, and blue collar workers.