Visual Statements: Combating Tobacco Advertising and Protecting Public Health

New York - In a major win for public health, the major U.S. tobacco companies have been ordered to display visual signs at around 220,000 retail stores nationwide that sell cigarettes. The signs, known as corrective statements, must be installed near cigarette displays in these stores between July 1 and Sept. 30 and must continue to be displayed until June 30, 2025. This action aims to benefit communities of color that have been disproportionately targeted with colorful tobacco advertisements and flavored tobacco products, which attract new teen smokers and make quitting smoking more difficult.

The display of corrective statements was first ordered in 2006 as part of a landmark judgment in the case of United States v. Philip Morris, et al. The tobacco companies were held liable for violating civil racketeering laws and lying to the public for decades about the health risks and addictiveness of smoking. The posting of corrective statements was delayed for 16 years as the tobacco companies fought against posting them in stores.

In Black and brown communities, there are up to 10 times more tobacco retail stores, leading to increased exposure to tobacco advertisements and products. These retailers are often located near schools, community centers, and health facilities, making it harder for individuals in these communities to avoid tobacco products.

Menthol marketing strategies have targeted Black Americans, making smoking easier to start and harder to quit. Efforts have been made in New York to remove menthol from retail stores, and the majority of New Yorkers support this action.

The signs will vividly depict the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke, as well as the addictiveness of smoking. The goal is to increase education and awareness among tobacco product users and highlight the prioritization of profit over people's health by tobacco companies.

Compliance with the mandated law will be enforced by external agencies, and a tip line will be established for reporting stores that do not adhere to the display requirements.

This initiative is part of a larger effort by various organizations to improve health care and social services for marginalized communities. Multiple projects aim to reduce adult tobacco use and prevent youth from starting smoking through education and community mobilization.