What are specific rules when advertising tobacco to children and teens?

Tobacco companies are not allowed to market to children. There are specific rules that prevent this, like websites where you have to enter your DOB to enter. However, there are ways around these rules where some could argue they are targeting children. For example, having cigarettes in colorful packaging placed at their eye level. Even when it’s not a dangerous substance, marketing to children is a sensitive issue because children are easily influenced.

In 2010 the FDA announced rules that severely restrict the way the tobacco industry can advertise and sell cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, especially marketing efforts designed to appeal to children and teens.

Under the new rules, the FDA will:

-- Ban tobacco companies from sponsoring sporting and entertainment events.

-- Outlaw free cigarette samples and giveaways of non-tobacco items with the purchase of tobacco.

-- Prohibit the sale of cigarettes in packs of fewer than 20, eliminating so-called "kiddie packs" that public health experts say make cigarettes more affordable.

-- Restrict tobacco products in vending machines and self-service displays to adult-only facilities, and require stores to place them behind the counter.

-- Forbid tobacco sales to children younger than 18 and require photo identification for over-the-counter sales.

-- Provide for federal enforcement against violators, ranging from warning letters to criminal penalties.

 

Besides these rules the FDA is still trying to do more, but tobacco companies are challenging their efforts. The FDA has proposed restricting store ads, and ads that run in magazines with large youth readership to black and white with no pictures. They have also proposed a ban on billboards within 1000 feet of schools and playgrounds. It’s still unclear how much will be done to prevent these companies from advertising to youth, but the FDA is trying to implement laws to protect the children.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/18/AR2010031803004.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0318/New-FDA-rules-restrict-tobacco-marketing-to-kids/%28page%29/2

Lyndsey R.W.