Call for Bans on Advertising Known to be Addictive Products

Several (actually many) years ago I threw a nearly-new carton of cigarettes in the trash with a vow to my 2-year old son to join the ranks of non-smokers. I wrote a congratulations message on the refrigerator, joined the nearby health club, and looked forward to spending the money I'd once spent on cigarettes relaxing in the sauna, swimming, biking, and getting strong. I looked forward to regaining some of the strength of my youth, smelling better, and no longer feeling pangs of guilt as I exposed my baby to second hand smoke. I had always enjoyed smoking and been incensed that anyone would think it their right to tell me I couldn't smoke at my desk at work (yes, in those days it was normal for people to have an ashtray on their desk...). But, then I realized I tended to cough more than other people. There were increasing numbers of places where I couldn't go in comfort because smoking wasn't allowed, and my locker at the baby lesson pool stunk when I opened it after a lesson. I knew it was a dirty, smelly, dangerous habit. Eventually, after I caught a cold that wouldn't go away, reason got the better of my addicted mind and I threw that nearly-new carton in the trash. I felt good right away. I was glad that the hospital had a help line that I could call if I got the urge to get a cigarette. By the time I'd dialed the number the urge had usually passed and I was able to quit, one cigarette urge at a time.

The most challenging obstacle I met during my battle was advertising of Virginia Slims cigarettes on the back cover of magazines. Here I'd convinced myself to quit because I wanted to get healthy, to look better, to feel better, to be more active. But look! here is this gorgeous ballerina with her toe shoes, tied up to her calves with a beautiful silk ribbon sitting on the edge of the stage smoking a cigarette. Why could she manage to be healthy and glamorous and still smoke. Surely I could do that too! I remember catching myself with these thoughts and forcing myself to remember it was only advertising by an unethical industry trying to make a buck without concern for the destruction it caused along the way. I managed to fight off the urge by calling the help line.

I was ever so thankful that advertising of cigarettes had been banned from television and I was very glad for that because I knew that if a simple picture on the back of a magazine could have the level of impact on me then even the help line would probably not have been able to help me in my battle if I had encountered the so much more suggestive advertising media of television. Of course, now that I have been away from cigarette smoking for many years these adds have no pull on me at all, nor would television advertisements. I am no longer addicted to nicotine and can't be fooled into thinking there is anything good about smoking.

So, now to the reason for this posting...

Imagine being addicted to alcohol and wanting to sit down and watch the ballgame on TV. Every couple of minutes you are made very aware that all the cool kids and the people who are having fun at the ballgame are drinking the king of beers (or some other brand). During the holidays you need to make things cheery with this wine or that drink. All summer you need to cool down with a wine cooler or a beer. If you go to a fine restaurant your meal is obviously not complete unless you order such and such wine or if you want to eat fried clams at the clam shack you can't possibly enjoy them without a beer. Well, I've known plenty of non-drinkers and they seem to have fun at ballgames and to enjoy dinner too. They stay cool in the summer -- probably cooler! AA and other recovery programs are good at helping people learn to ignore advertising messages but it must take the strength of a giant to participate in society let alone watch a ballgame.

Consider someone who can no longer afford to go any to the ballgame because they have lost all their money gambling. They turn on the TV because that's all they can afford to do and are bombarded with scenes of a poker chip dancing its way around the casino and finally coming to rest in the cleavage of a very busty waitress. Or a couple entering the casino and leaving their old stodgy work clothes at the door. You have to give credit to the advertisers -- they are very good at their craft. And, if a person doesn't have a gambling problem then advertising is just helping remind them of their options. But, if a person is fighting addiction to gambling, laying around wondering about how to get back on their feet and enjoy life again, how much more likely are they to decide that just one more trip to the table couldn't do that much damage.

What is so difficult for me to understand is WHY did cigarette advertising get banned but not other known addictive substances and activities? These addictions cost this society untold numbers of dollars in medical bills and lost wages. They tear apart families and corrupt young minds. So, WHY are these advertisements still allowed on television? I'm interested to know what you think? If you have evidence to support what you think so much the better.