Big Tobacco's Anti-Smoking Ads Actually Boost Teen Smoking

"Anti-smoking ads on television produced by tobacco companies and aimed at parents may actually be encouraging children to start smoking, Australian researchers report."

An interesting form of undercover marketing, some are accusing the tobacco industry of coming up with clever and disguised ways of promoting smoking through "anti-smoking' ads. "The tobacco companies are up to their old tricks," said Danny McGoldrick, director of research at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "Anyone who thinks that the tobacco companies have reformed are kidding themselves." Smart tobacco companies. Great way to cover their ass so when they're faced with another multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit they can say "But your honor, we were trying to raise awareness of the risks, not promote smoking." This study by researchers at The Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne looked at TV ratings data from 75 media markets in the United States. They specifically watched for the average person's exposure to anti-smoking ads sponsored by tobacco companies. The names of some of the ads: "Think. Don't Smoke" and "Tobacco Is Whacko If You're a Teen." They also looked at school surveys of more than 100,000 kids from 1999 to 2002 and found no decrease in smoking from ads targeted at teens. "The authors noted that, according to recent testimony, this appears to be just what one tobacco company intended."