Tobacco In Stores

The "where" and the "why"

Putting cigarettes and other tobacco products near candy displays is no accident. The tobacco companies are trying to get young people to associate their products with candy. How evil is that? Also, by placing cigarette and spit tobacco ads (like signs) at a lower eye level in stores, Big Tobacco can reach a very impressionable audience – kids.

Tobacco companies pay good money for what shows up in the stores. In fact, since advertising restrictions (like sponsorships and ads in youth magazines) were put in place in 1998, more and more of their marketing dollars go to the retail stores.

You might wonder what all that money gets spent on at a small convenience store. It’s more than just signs. Tobacco companies are paying for things like:

• Special offers – like buy one get one free
• Free gifts with purchase – branded lighters and other “toys”
• Price discounts – that help lower the price of cigarettes and can offset tax increases from the state
• Displays and other help with setting up things in the store