What holds you as an unwilling captive as you walk up to the register in some pharmacies and convenience stores: Tobacco advertising in the form of a product display. It is virtually impossible to avoid. Do you think this is an accident? Sale representatives from the tobacco industry actually refer to this area as the "power wall" or "goalpost."
Why is it there? Certainly smokers who tend to be brand loyal do not need to see the package to remind them to buy their addictive product. Marketing studies show non-smoking adults are not affected by the barrage. Why is the packaging often designed to look like candy and gum products?
The display is located inescapably in the front of the store to tempt smokers who are trying to quit and to attract our children. The reality is that although tobacco is only legal for adults, 90 percent of all smokers begin before their 18th birthday. Think New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has gone too far? Tobacco is the only product sold that has no safe level of consumption. Ask your children what they see; what you hear might surprise and frighten you.
Laura Waterhouse
Latham
