Essay on Tobacco Advertising

Submitted By nicolevolpe
Words: 1185
Pages: 5
Open Document
Advertising
Tobacco, alcohol, and gambling organizations pay millions of dollars a year on advertising for their products. The advertisement of potentially addictive substances including alcohol, tobacco and gambling are a constitutional right, that if is targeted towards a legal demographic, is appropriate and not linked to the increased usage of these substances and activities. The US prides itself on being a nation founded on freedom, but this right allows our citizens to make potentially harmful decisions, which is their right in the case of tobacco, alcohol, and gambling.
A ban of the sale of alcohol would not result in a decrease of the purchase and use of the product. Alcohol is already prevalent in modern society, and advertising is not the reason that people choose to drink. Ads for alcohol serve the purpose of swaying viewers to choose their product, not convince people to begin drinking. A study by the Federal Trade Commission found that “There is no reliable basis to conclude that alcohol advertising significantly affects consumption, let alone abuse.” (Alcohol Problems and Solutions) The consumption of alcohol is a voluntary life choice, that won’t likely be made based off of a TV ad or billboard. The public is exposed to images of drinking several times a day through TV, movies, books, music, social networking etc. Ads will do little in the decision of people to choose to consume alcohol. One argument of advocates for the ban of alcohol advertising is that ads are aimed at the youth. They argue that there are images of increased attractiveness, social ineptness and relaxation, but this argument is invalid because these qualities are attractive to every age demographic. Studies have been conducted by valid organizations that support the argument of the minimal effect of advertisement on drinking. “The US Department of Health and Human Services in its report to congress concluded that there is no significant relationship between alcohol advertising and alcohol consumption. It did not recommend banning or imposing additional restrictions on advertising.” (Alcohol Problems and Solutions) Although it can easily be argued that alcohol is a harmful substance, it is legal, and alcohol companies have the right to advertise their product. Companies that advertise gambling operate under strict regulations that assure that the advertisement is legal and morally upstanding, and the ban of this advertisement would be a violation of constitutional rights. Strict laws assure that gambling is advertised to an appropriate audience. “The rules make it clear that advertising should not be aimed at children and young people and that it does not leave vulnerable people open to exploitation or harm.” (Gambling Commission) Gambling is a safe activity when done in moderation, and can not lead to health risks. There is no need to ban gambling ads if they continue to abide by the moral expectations set on them. It’s a legal pastime that can be enjoyed by responsible adults. In our society, the blame is often placed to the organizations offering the “harmful substances”, although it is the consumers that allow the continuation of sale by buying them. Our society needs to hold its citizens accountable for their poor lifestyle decisions, instead of always blaming corporations. The court case Players International Inc. v Unites States emphasizes the importance of the government holding its people accountable to making their own decisions. “Such concerns are not sufficient to warrant the federal regulation of gambling any more so than concerns about overeating would justify federal regulation of the purchase and sale of food.” (justice.gov) The government can only intervene so much in attempt to prevent the continuation of harmful behaviors; it is US citizen’s right to freedom to make poor decisions regarding their health and how they spend their money. This concept is shown in Sherman Alexie’s work “Superman and Me.” He emphasizes the
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Tobacco Advertising

Tobacco-Free Kids Advertising

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the major tobacco companies now spend $9.6 billion per year more than $26 million every day to promote their products, and any of their marketing efforts directly reach kids. According to Tobacco Free Kids (TFK) (2012), tobacco industry documents, research on the effect of the cigarette companies’ marketing efforts on kids, and the opinions of advertising experts combine to reveal the intent and the success of the industry’s efforts to attract new…

Words 450 - Pages 2

The Pros And Cons Of Tobacco Advertising

Prior to the banning of tobacco advertisements on January 2, 1971 by the U.S congress, tobacco companies advertised freely and boldly in the means of increased sales. Tobacco ads featured sayings such as “Most doctors smoke camels”, used celebrity and athlete endorsement, as well as sold the gimmick of flavored and colorful packaging in the hopes of attracting bigger audiences especially a younger one. As of now tobacco products are one of the most regulated in terms of marketing and in the u.s overall…

Words 761 - Pages 4

Social: Advertising and National Tobacco Campaign Essay

14.3.1.2 The National Tobacco Campaign Through the 1990s Quit organisations working across Australia cooperated extensively with materials being shared or adapted where possible. However it was not until 1997 that a truly national campaign, galvanising the collective expertise and resources of all Australian Quit campaigns and the Commonwealth, was launched. The National Tobacco Campaign was developed as steady reductions in smoking prevalence observed through the 1980s and early 1990s were stalling…

Words 490 - Pages 2

Essay about Tobacco Advertising Is Illegal but Alcohol Is Not. Is This Hypocritical?

COMM 3P14 – Media Industries Tobacco Advertising is Illegal, but Advertising for Alcohol is not, Is This Hypocritical? Rebecca Stewart 4574927 Russell Johnston Seminar 3 November 11, 2012 Advertisements are a vital part of any company’s marketing strategy, and are used to inform or persuade an audience about a certain product or service. In fact, North American companies are among the world’s highest advertisers (Boone et al., 2010, 502). Today, an average consumer is exposed to hundreds…

Words 3165 - Pages 13

Essay about Tobacco and Comprehensive Ban

morbidity and mortality in tobacco cigarette smokers. Our study was designed to determine whether acute effects of tobacco smoking on endothelium and platelets could be avoided by the substitution of non-tobacco cigarettes. Twenty healthy nonsmokers smoked two tobacco cigarettes in 20 minutes and on another occasion (separated by 1 week) smoked two cigarettes made from wheat, cocoa, and citrus plants. Mean endothelial cell counts from venous blood before and after smoking tobacco cigarettes were 2.3 and…

Words 685 - Pages 3

Cigarettes Advertising Should Be Banned In The United States

a significant worth of cigarette, alcohol, and prescription drug advertising is effectively working to get them to “just say yes” to smoking, drinking, and other drugs. In addition, television programs and movies contain appreciable amounts of programs that include substance use. Unlike traditional advertising, media depictions of legal drugs are generally positive and invite no criticism, because they are not viewed as advertising. The result is that young people receive mixed messages about substance…

Words 3336 - Pages 14

The Effects Of The Tobacco Control Act

2009, the Tobacco Control Act was passed, giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission to put restrictions and regulations on sales and advertising by tobacco companies. Under this act, packaging and advertising have a color and design limit, sporting and entertainment events may not be sponsored by tobacco products under their brand name, and cigarettes may not be sold in packages of fewer than 20 cigarettes (Overview… Tobacco Control Act). The act also prohibits advertising that is false…

Words 834 - Pages 4

cigarette case Essay examples

14 of 831 DOCUMENTS In re TOBACCO CASES II. S129522 SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA 41 Cal. 4th 1257; 163 P.3d 106; 63 Cal. Rptr. 3d 418; 2007 Cal. LEXIS 8189 August 2, 2007, Filed SUBSEQUENT HISTORY: US Supreme Court certiorari denied by Daniels v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 128 S. Ct. 1649, 170 L. Ed. 2d 354, 2008 U.S. LEXIS 2467 (U.S., 2008) PRIOR HISTORY: Court of Appeal of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, No. D041356. Superior Court of San Diego County…

Words 9488 - Pages 38

How To Legalize Smoking In Canada

regulate this public health concern, the Tobacco Sales to Young Persons Act (TSYPA) was passed in May of 1988, replacing the 1908 Tobacco Restraint Act (“A Legal History of Smoking”). The purpose of the TSYPA was to protect the health of young Canadians by limiting their access to tobacco products in light of the risks associated with the use of tobacco. It prohibits any person from selling or giving tobacco to those under the age of eighteen. It also requires tobacco vending machines to be removed from…

Words 968 - Pages 4

Essay on Tobacco Industry Analysis

The tobacco industry involves companies that sell and produce tobacco products all around the world. Tobacco products include cigarette, cigar, pipe, and chewing tobacco. Tobacco smoking is “the single largest cause of preventable death and disease in our community.” (Tobacco. 2006) With a society becoming more prosperous, education is improving and a concern for quality of life is resulting in a strong anti-smoking sentiment on all levels of society. Therefore the present and future marketing activities…

Words 2162 - Pages 9