Essay/Term paper: Tobacco companies targeting young people

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Alcohol and Drugs

Tobacco Companies Targeting Young People

Thesis: Statistics show us that young people are the main target of the tobacco
companies.

Outline

I. Introduction

II. Two main companies

III. Tobacco industries claims

VI. Other problems

V. Stopping them from smoking

VI. Conclusion


Every day, 3,000 kids start smoking, most of them between the ages of 10
and 18. These kids add up to 90 percent of all new smokers (Roberts 38). These
statistics show us that young people are the main targets of the tobacco
companies. The cigarette manufacturers will deny it, but advertising and
promotion play a very important part in making these statistics a reality.
The two main companies in this advertising war are Marlboro and Camel.
Marlboro uses a western cowboy called the Marlboro Man, while Camel uses Joe
Camel, a hip cartoon character. Everywhere you go there is billboards or some
other kind of advertisement on these two shady characters. When I say shady, I
imply that these characters are not just figures we see but they are traps just
waiting to lure the next victim in. As kids look through magazines and see Joe
Camel driving a cool car and surrounded by beautiful women they get the idea
that in order to be somebody they need to smoke a Camel cigarette. It is not
right to prey on young people just because they are unaware of the dangers of
smoking.
The tobacco industry denies that these symbols target people less than
21 and claim that their advertising goal is simply to promote brand switching
and loyalty. Many people disagree with this statement such as Illinois Rep.
Richard Durbin who said "If we can reduce the number of young smokers, the
tobacco companies will be in trouble and they know it"(Roberts 38).
The problem we are facing is not only with the tobacco companies but
with the young people also. The reason why I say this is because most youths
know that they are being targeted. If these kids realize that the advertising is
manipulating them, why do they still smoke? The ads reflect an image of
rebellion and fitting in. These are all the things a young person, between
childhood and adolescence, needs and desires. This type of advertising, on top
of peer pressure, is the mystery behind the rise in adolescent smoking.
How do we stop the future of America from smoking? Here are three things
that the experts recommend. Try to convince your children that smoking is not
cool. Talk to your kids at a young age about the dangers of smoking. Identify
family members who smoke and ask them to stop (Thomas 450). These are things we
all need to stress to our kids, without forcing them. When a parent tries to
force a child to do any thing the child automatically, puts up his/her defense
and rebels. This is a big reason why a lot of kids start. They're just trying to
be independent and make decisions on their own.
Children are the most important thing we are given in life. Let's try to
educate them while they're young to be independent thinkers and to not be
manipulated by the tobacco companies. Maybe if my parents had used some of these
techniques I would have never started.