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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The authors noted a nationwide decline in smoking -- about a 50 percent drop in adult smoking over the past 40 years -- but pointed out that one in five Americans still smokes, and more than 4,000 children and teens smoke their first cigarette each day.
Citing statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the report authors said cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths each year, and reduces the life expectancy of smokers by an average of 14 years.
"The report stops at synthesizing the evidence," Wakefield said. "Now it is up to the government to consider the evidence and think about what it needs to do in terms of advertising and promotion."
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While the report was released by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, "other nations will take note of this report," she said.
William Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who also spoke at the press conference, said: "This report sends an unmistakable message to our elected officials that they can dramatically reduce tobacco use by children and by adults by passing legislation that would authorize the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products and by adequately funding their state prevention and cessation programs."
Bill Phelps, a spokesman for the Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, took issue with some of the findings. "It appears that many of the conclusions in the report are based on marketing practices that are more than 30 or 40 years old," he said. "We think it's important to focus on the marketing practices that we have in place today."
He said that spending for cigarette brand advertising for Philip Morris USA, which includes Marlboro cigarettes, has dropped 46 percent in the past 10 years. Philip Morris supports federal legislation under consideration to regulate tobacco products, he said.
In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would subject the tobacco industry to federal regulation, including granting the FDA the power to regulate tobacco products. The Senate has yet to act on a similar measure.
More information
For more on keeping kids free from tobacco, visit the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
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