In the United States today, more than forty six million Americans are addicted to cigarettes. More people have died due to cigarette smoking than from narcotic drugs, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War combined (Bailey 1). The annual death toll for cigarette smoking is more than four-hundred thousand Americans a year, and is the number-one preventable cause of death in the United States. If Americans are aware of the lethal effects of smoking, why is it still so popular? Guy Smith, a Phillip Morris Tobacco Company executive, claims that their research shows that advertising is the top reason people start smoking (Bailey 34). Most people will argue that this is not true because the do not like to be sold and do not like to admit advertising affects them. Despite their claims, more Americans buy brand name and heavily advertised products than any other country in the world (Bailey 33). Smoking in the mass media is advertised and portrayed in such a way that it is attractive to the public but does not warn about its harmful effects. The media also targets children and teenagers with cartoon advertisements and by putting them in areas that are attractive you young minds. Tobacco companies recognize the harmful effects of their products, but deny that their advertisements play any part in creating a desire to smoke. William Hobbs, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Chief Executive Officer, explains, Advertising played no part in encouraging people to smoke, so therefore I have no responsibility to urge them not to smoke (Bailey 205). Phillip Morris Tobacco Company uses a friendly familiarity ploy to attract smokers and portrays smoking as a socially acceptable practice. In their advertisements, people can be seen laughing and smoking in a crowded restaurant, but Phillip Morris claims they have never created the idea that smoking is a fun or popular thing to do (Bailey 207). A major issue today in tobacco advertisement is the controversy ...
