Tobacco Companies Targeting Young People :: Free Essay Writer

Tobacco Companies Targeting Young PeopleThesis Statistics show us that young slew are the main target of the tobaccocompanies. traceI. IntroductionII. Two main companiesIII. Tobacco industries claimsVI. Other problemsV. Stopping them from smokingVI. Conclusion     Every day, 3,000 kids start smoking, most of them between the ages of 10and 18. These kids add up to 90 percent of all new smokers (Roberts 38). Thesestatistics show us that young people are the main targets of the tobaccocompanies. The cigarette manufacturers will deny it, hardly advertising andpromotion play a very important part in making these statistics a reality.     The two main companies in this advertising fight are Marlboro and Camel.Marlboro uses a western cowboy called the Marlboro Man, while Camel uses JoeCamel, a hip cartoon character. Everywhere you go there is billboards or someother var. of advertisement on these two shady characters. When I say shady, Iimply tha t these characters are not proficient figures we see but they are traps justwaiting to lure the next victim in. As kids look through magazines and see JoeCamel driving a cool car and surrounded by bonny women they get the ideathat in order to be somebody they need to smoke a Camel cigarette. It is notright to prey on young people just because they are unaware of the dangers ofsmoking.     The tobacco industry denies that these symbols target people less than21 and claim that their advertising goal is simply to promote place switchingand loyalty. Many people disagree with this statement such as Illinois Rep.Richard Durbin who said "If we can reduce the number of young smokers, thetobacco companies will be in trouble and they know it"(Roberts 38).     The problem we are facing is not only with the tobacco companies butwith the young people also. The reason why I say this is because most youthsknow that they are being targeted. If thes e kids realize that the advertising ismanipulating them, why do they still smoke? The ads reflect an image ofrebellion and competent in. These are all the things a young person, betweenchildhood and adolescence, needs and desires. This type of advertising, on topof peer pressure, is the mystery behind the rise in adolescent smoking.     How do we stop the future of America from smoking? Here are three thingsthat the experts recommend. Try to convince your children that smoking is notcool. Talk to your kids at a young age about the dangers of smoking. Identifyfamily members who smoke and ask them to stop (Thomas 450).