2009 Oklahoma Events

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Jen Deets, 202-745-5110
Nicole Dueffert, 202-296-5469

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Press Release

Oklahoma Kids "Kick Butts" on March 25
Health Advocates Urge Congress to Crack Down on Tobacco Marketing to Kids

WASHINGTON, DC (March 19, 2009) — Kids across Oklahoma will rally against tobacco on March 25 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 14th annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  Hundreds of events are planned across the nation.

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 and save lives," said Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.  "Tobacco products are the No. 1 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 Oklahoma, tobacco companies spend $245.8 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 Oklahoma, tobacco use claims 6,200 lives and costs the state $1.16 billion in health care bills a year, and 23.2 percent of high school students smoke.

Featured Events

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 Oklahoma include (all events are on March 25 unless otherwise noted):

At Altus Community Center in Altus, students and other advocacy groups will be working to promote awareness of the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke on children and beloved family pets by encouraging community residents to adopt a ‘Voluntary No Smoking in the Home Policy.’  Time: 4 PM.  Location: Ardmore YMCA, 401 Falcon Road, Altus.  Contact: Dennie Christian (580) 471-1718.

In Stillwater, students and faculty at Oklahoma State University will display household products that contain the same dangerous chemicals as cigarettes, such as ammonia and arsenic.  Students will also collect letters and petitions to send to local and state legislators to urge them to support anti-tobacco legislation.  Time: 10 AM.  Location: 1202 West Farm Road, Stillwater.  Contact: Yvon Fils-Aime (405) 227-5998.

Members of the Atoka Students Working Against Tobacco (S.W.A.T.) will display 16 tombstones on the Atoka County Courthouse lawn to represent the 16 Oklahomans who die each day from tobacco use to encourage local community leaders to pass youth access ordinances.  Time: 2:30 PM.  Location: 200 East Court Street, Atoka.  Contact: Amber Gammon (580) 889-2116.

On March 21, Students Working Against Tobacco (S.W.A.T.) members from local high schools will display 1200 tombstones on the Sallisaw Public Library lawn in Sallisaw to represent the number of people who die each day in the U.S. from tobacco and secondhand smoke.  Students will also be passing out information and statistics on tobacco and its harmful effects.  Time: 8 AM.  Location: 101 East Cherokee Avenue, Sallisaw.  Contact: Tricia Wall (918) 315-1139.

 

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