Teens and Tobacco

Studies show that 80 to 90 percent of U.S. smokers took up the habit before age 20. No wonder, then, that teenage consumers interest both the tobacco industry and anti-smoking activists. Industry officials say cigarette advertising is aimed only at smokers age 18 and older, and that younger smokers start because of peer pressure. For their part, anti-smoking groups say cigarette ads and promotional campaigns deliberately target youngsters under 18, the legal smoking age nationwide. The struggle between the tobacco industry and its foes now centers on proposed federal regulations that would curb youth-oriented tobacco marketing. However, leading tobacco companies and national advertising groups have filed separate suits seeking to undo the rulemaking package before it can be implemented.