Fighting against tobacco

  • By Dr. KRISTIN COX
  • Tuesday, June 6, 2017 8:37am
  • Opinion

May 31 was World No Tobacco Day. However, the fight against tobacco extends to every day of the year. Despite the global smoking rate declining almost 30 percent in the last 25 years, more people are actually smoking world-wide. Why is this? The world’s population is increasing, largely due to population growth in developing countries. The tobacco industry has shifted their marketing and predatory tactics towards these countries.

Still, the industry continues to prey on vulnerable groups in the US, targeting young people as replacements for their current smoking customers. Tobacco remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease.

The tobacco industry spends $1 million an hour advertising their deadly products to Alaskans, in grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores. Smokers do not need a sign to remind them to buy cigarettes. Advertising familiarizes young people with tobacco brands and reduces the perception of harm, especially for candy flavored tobacco products, when sold next to innocuous grocery store items. Displaying tobacco products at the grocery store also encourages impulse purchases, undermining people’s efforts at quitting. And tobacco advertising has been shown to influence young people to smoke with an effect equal to that of parental smoking.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

In a recent study of Juneau tobacco retailers (excluding adult only locations), 100 percent were found to have tobacco displays visible to children. Seventy-five percent sold single little cigars (cigarillos) and seventy-two percent sold flavored tobacco products. Twenty-one percent had tobacco products displayed within 12 inches of candy or toys and at least 8 percent had ads within 3 feet of the floor. All of the Juneau tobacco retailers were located within the 10 lowest income neighborhoods while the other 15 neighborhoods of higher income had zero establishments.

Who will be the first tobacco-free generation? Will we achieve it while allowing the tobacco industry to advertise candy flavored tobacco products to children at the grocery store? The CBJ should consider restricting the sales of flavored-tobacco products to adult-only establishments.


• Dr. Kristin Cox is part of the Tobacco Prevention and Control at the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in Juneau.


 

More in Opinion

Web
Have something to say?

Here’s how to add your voice to the conversation.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) questions Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Opinion: Sen. Sullivan doesn’t know the meaning of leadership

Last Wednesday, Sen. Dan Sullivan should have been prepared for questions about… Continue reading

Current facilities operated by the private nonprofit Gastineau Human Services Corp., which is seeking to add to its transitional housing in Juneau. (Gastineau Human Services Corp. photo)
Opinion: Housing shouldn’t be a political issue — it’s a human right

Alaska is facing a crisis — one that shouldn’t be up for… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: In the spirit of McKinley, a new name for Juneau

Here is a modest proposal for making Juneau great again. As we… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: Protect the balance of democracy

We are a couple in our 70s with 45-plus years as residents… Continue reading

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following his inauguration as the 47th president. Legal experts said the president was testing the boundaries of executive power with aggressive orders designed to stop the country from transitioning to renewable energy. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Opinion: Sen. McConnell, not God, made Trump’s retribution presidency possible

I’m not at all impressed by President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly members confer with city administrative leaders during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Nov 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Community affordability takes a back seat to Assembly spending

Less than four months ago, Juneau voters approved a $10 million bond… Continue reading

Bins of old PFAS-containing firefighting foams are seen on Oct. 24, 2024, at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport fire department headquarters. The PFAS foams are due to be removed and sent to a treatment facility. The airport, like all other state-operated airports, is to switch to non-PFAS firefighting foams by the start of 2025, under a new state law. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Opinion: A change for safer attire: PFAS Alternatives Act 2023

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are man-made synthetic chemicals… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: Informing the Public?

The recent Los Angeles area firestorms have created their own media circus… Continue reading

Attendees are seated during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2025. Pictures shared on social media by the vice president and by the Carter Center prominently showed other past presidents in attendance. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
Opinion: Karen Pence’s silent act of conscience

Last week at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, President-elect Donald Trump and former President… Continue reading

The Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc hatchery. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
My Turn: Fisheries Proposal 156 jeopardizes Juneau sport fishing and salmon

The Board of Fisheries will meet in Ketchikan Jan. 28–Feb. 9 to… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Opinion: Attacking Biden is not the answer for Alaska — leadership is

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s transition report to the Trump administration accuses the Biden… Continue reading