'Get mad' Campaign Targets Tobacco Ads

Source from:  leaderherald.com May 17, 2008  05/19/2008

Capital Region community groups and tobacco-free advocates are urging parents to "get mad" about tobacco industry ads. According to the release, local community agencies are partnering with the Project Action Tobacco-Free Coalition to increase parents' awareness that tobacco ads in stores increase the odds that their children will smoke. "Three out of four teens shop in convenience stores every week," Project Action Program Coordinator Sue Arminio, said in the release. "It's no coincidence that the average convenience store displays 26 tobacco ads on its premises, many of them at kids' eye level. Tobacco companies spend 80 percent of their marketing dollars on retail advertising and promotion." Project Action has booked ads on billboards, bus shelters and radio spots that will run through May. Enditem