Adults Underestimate Tobacco Advertising in Local Stores, But Show Concern That Ads Influence Kids to Smoke

An informal survey conducted at this year's Greatest Heart Run Walk on March 4 and 5, in Utica finds that adults significantly underestimate the extent of tobacco product advertising in stores that sell cigarettes, while strongly believing that such advertising influences children to smoke. As part of the annual Kick Butts Day, the survey was conducted by BRiDGES to Prevent Tobacco, to see if local consumers are aware of the targeted marketing and it's impressions on youth. The survey found: * 46 percent of people surveyed said that when they visit a convenience store, supermarket or gas station, they observe 10 or fewer cigarette ads. In fact, a statewide study conducted for the state Department of Health in 2007 found an average of 18 ads per store. * 90 percent of people surveyed believed tobacco advertising influences children 'a lot.' Only 3 percent thought tobacco advertising had little or no effect on children. Research has found that weekly or more frequent exposure to retail tobacco marketing is associated with a 50-percent increase in the odds that adolescents will ever smoke.