WASHINGTON, DC (March 23, 2009) – Kids across Delaware will rally against tobacco on March 25 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the fourteenth annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Hundreds of events are planned across the nation (for a list of local events, go to @link href=’http://www.kickbuttsday.org/events’target=”_blank”>www.kickbuttsday.org/events).
This year, Kick Butts Day is raising awareness about continued tobacco marketing to kids and the need for Congress to crack down on these harmful practices by passing legislation granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.
Kick Butts Day comes on the heels of a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that demonstrated how tobacco marketing continues to influence kids. The study found that youth smokers overwhelmingly prefer the three most heavily advertised cigarette brands – Philip Morris’ Marlboro, Lorillard’s Newport and R.J. Reynolds’ Camel. These brands were preferred by 78.2 percent of middle school smokers and 86.5 percent of high school smokers. Marlboro is preferred by more high school smokers, 52.3 percent, than all other brands combined.
To protect kids from tobacco addiction and save lives, health advocates are urging Congress to pass legislation granting the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the legislation earlier this month.
Among other things, this legislation would crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids. It would limit tobacco advertising in stores and in magazines with significant teen readership to black-and-white text only, eliminating the colorful images that depict smoking as cool and glamorous. It would ban outdoor tobacco advertising near schools and playgrounds; end tobacco sponsorships of sports and entertainment events; and require stores to place tobacco products behind the counter.
“We hope Kick Butts Day will inspire our nation’s leaders to take long-overdue action to protect our children from tobacco action and save lives,” said Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Tobacco products are the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, yet they have escaped even the most basic regulation to protect public health. It’s time for Congress to end this special protection for the tobacco industry and protect our nation’s kids and health instead.”
In addition to the marketing restrictions, the bill before Congress would require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco products; ban misleading cigarette descriptions such as “light” and “low-tar;” strictly regulate all health claims about tobacco products; require disclosure of the contents of tobacco products; and allow the FDA to mandate changes in tobacco products, such as the reduction or removal of harmful chemicals.
At the state level, health advocates are urging governors and legislators to adopt proven measures to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, including higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws, and well-funded programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.
Since the 1998 tobacco settlement, tobacco companies have nearly doubled their annual marketing expenditures, from $6.9 billion in 1998 to $13.4 billion in 2005 – more than $36 million per day, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In Delaware, tobacco companies spend $105.5 million a year to market their products.
Nationwide, tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people and costs the nation $96 billion in health care bills each year, and 20 percent of high school students smoke. In Delaware, tobacco use claims 1,100 lives and costs the state $284 million in health care bills a year, and 20.2 percent of high school students smoke.
On Kick Butts Day, kids turn the tables on Big Tobacco with events that range from “They put WHAT in a cigarette?” demonstrations to mock-funerals for the Marlboro Man to rallies at state capitols. Activities in Delaware include (all events are on March 25 unless otherwise noted):
On March 28, the First State Community Action Agency will be partnering with the Georgetown Boys and Girls Club for a fun-filled Kick Butts Day in Georgetown. At 9 AM, they will hold a cigarette butt cleanup to eliminate this growing eyesore from Georgetown Circle in Georgetown. At 12 PM, after the cleanup, the group will celebrate with a Kick Butts Day carnival at the Georgetown Boys and Girls Club. The day will end at the National Guard Armory with a basketball tournament. Time: 9 AM. Location: Varies by time. Contact: Sandi Hagans (302) 856-7761 ext. 115.
Students at Delcastle Technical High School in Wilmington will be seeking to bring attention to the 1,200 people who die each day from tobacco-use and tobacco related illnesses by passing out 1,200 flyers. The school’s KBG will also be dressing up in all black to further bring attention to these lost lives. Time: 12 PM. Location: 1417 Newport Road, Wilmington. Contact: Mark Wells (302) 995-8087.
