Advertising Restrictions

Tobacco industry advertising and promotions of cigarettes in the 20th century was (and continues to be) a leading cause of cigarette smoking worldwide. Cigarette advertisements also contribute to disparities in smoking prevalence and tobacco-related disease by targeting groups in their messaging, images, and merchandising (e.g., women, LGBTQ+, youth, and African Americans).¹ The US Federal Trade Commission determined that in 2022 tobacco companies spent $8.0 billion on advertising and promotions, a large portion of which represented price discounts to tobacco retailers for selling cigarettes at lower prices.² Restricting advertising has thus been a major public health goal for some governments; this is based on research showing decreases in smoking prevalence in countries that have adopted and enforced them.^3,4

In the US, Congress passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act in 1970 which banned cigarette advertising on radio and television. Advertisements were still allowed, however, in magazines, newspapers, and billboards. Subsequently, the 1997 Master Settlement Agreement signed by 46 states [BOX 2] banned outdoor advertisements such as on billboards and on public transportation, and the use of cartoons in cigarette advertising.⁵ Further restrictions went into effect in 2009 when the US Food and Drug Administration was given the authority by Congress through the Tobacco Control Act [BOX 3] to regulate the advertising and sale of tobacco products. It included bans on the promotion of cigarette brands at sporting, entertainment, social, and cultural events.⁶

With the rise in popularity of social media, however, tobacco companies have sought to circumvent bans by using alternative platforms. For example, although many social media sites popular with youth ban paid advertisements promoting tobacco products, the use of social influencers to advertise products is generally unregulated.⁷