(The following article is part of the Executive Agencies Project for American Government.)
When was the last time you saw or even heard an ad for cigarettes? Well, unless you were born in the 70’s, the answer should be never. Of course, there are still advertisements in magazines, but as of 1971, all radio and television cigarette ads were banned from airing. So why is it that every time I walk into a 7-11, I hear an ad for JUUL playing overhead?
While the advertising isn’t geared towards youth, an analysis of National Youth Tobacco survey taken in August of 2019 reported that 21% of high school students reported using some sort of e-cigarette within the previous 30 days. That’s compared to the 3% of adults that say they used an e-cigarette in 2017. Why are we not take the advertisement of e-cigarettes as seriously as we take the advertisement of regular cigarettes/tobacco products? According to the CDC, being exposed to e-cigarette ads correlates with the chances that young people will use their products just as much as cigarette ads correlate with the use of cigarettes/tobacco products. Ultimately, businesses prioritize sales and profit over the health of the people using their products, which is something that needs to change.
The advertisement of nicotine and tobacco products have had a great influence on many youths to begin vaping. Although vaping has become a borderline epidemic, it may be argued that advertisement is a right and advertising nicotine products is a healthier alternative to smoking. Although commercial speech is less protected than other types of speech, it is nonetheless protected by the First Amendment. Big nicotine and tobacco product companies may get upset if their right to advertise their product is taken away. Additionally, CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Assoc.) says that electronic cigarettes were patented to steer smokers towards a healthier alternative. Some may say that taking away advertisement of such products would encourage other, more dangerous means of nicotine and tobacco use.
Case in point, there are also many reasons to restrict the advertisement of nicotine/tobacco products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 out of 10 middle and high school students say they’ve seen e-cigarette ads. In addition, about 9 out of 10 smokers begin smoking before age 18. The correlation between these two does not seem coincidental. It seems that higher exposure to e-cigarettes via ads relates to a higher chance that youth will pick up habits of smoking. Aside from setting bad habits from an early age, vaping has proven to be deadly and very dangerous. CDC reports that there have been “37 deaths linked to vaping-related illnesses” (Winn). Restricting advertising of tobacco and nicotine products could reduce the number of youth picking up vaping and would prevent against serious health repercussions.
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Sources:
Andrews, M. (2019). NPR Choice page. [online] Npr.org. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/20/752553108/cigarettes-cant-be-advertised-on-tv-should-juul-ads-be-permitted [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].
Simon, S. (2019). Report: More and More Teens Seeing E-Cigarette Ads. [online] Cancer.org. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/report-more-and-more-teens-seeing-e-cigarette-ads.html [Accessed 16 Oct. 2019].