The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated May 31 as World No Tobacco Day. Every year, WHO seeks to draw attention to the worldwide tobacco epidemic and this year the focus is on keeping our youth free from the marketing tactics of the tobacco companies.

Our families are bombarded with tobacco marketing on an almost daily basis. Whether it is glamorous, sexy, full-page advertisements in magazines, smoking in G-rated movies or the wallpaper of tobacco ads at convenience stores, the goal is to make us think that smoking is normal. Unfortunately for tobacco companies, most of us know better.

We know that nearly 90 percent of smokers started smoking before age 18. We know teenagers are more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette advertising than peer pressure.

We know that tobacco companies are pouring millions of dollars into promotional advertising and discounting prices on cigarettes at the retail level.

Yes, some of that advertising is directed at current smokers, but most of it is done to lure new customers.

Could it be because three out of every four teens shop in a convenience store at least once a week?

To combat the overload of tobacco advertising in the retail environment, the Auburn City Council passed a resolution proclaiming May 31, 2008 No Tobacco Ads Day in the city of Auburn. This resolution asked that retailers voluntarily remove exterior tobacco signs, voluntarily remove interior tobacco signs placed at child's eye level and “demonstrate their commitment to the health of the children of Auburn by reducing the overall number of tobacco advertisements in their stores.”

We thank the city council, Mayor Michael Quill and City Manager Mark Palesh for their support in passing this resolution. For others interested in finding out more about reducing tobacco advertising, please call me at 252-1146.

Karen Darling

Auburn

Darling writes on behalf of

Reality Check of Cayuga County