Sample letter to store owners

Dear Store Owner:

Do you know that over 3,000 kids become regular smokers everyday and that one in every three will die prematurely from diseases related to tobacco? We members of C.O.S.T. (Children Opposed to Smoking Tobacco) are working hard to keep kids from getting addicted. We are committed to our work because many of us have experienced the pain that tobacco use causes.

It is no wonder that so many of us have suffered. In the United States, cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco together are the single leading preventable cause of death. Each year, tobacco kills over 400,000 Americans, more people than are killed by AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, homicides, illegal drugs, suicides and fires combined.

You can help us to end this needless suffering by taking down tobacco ads that are attracting kids into the deadly habit of tobacco use. There is no doubt that tobacco ads found at your store target kids. You see, almost 90 percent of adults who have ever been regular smokers began smoking at or before age 18. The tobacco companies would not spend over $5 billion each year (nearly $16.5 million every day) on advertising that is aimed at adults, because adults only represent 10% of their new customers. They spend this money to deceive kids. They need children as new customers to replace the thousands of customers who either die or quit using their products each day.

The money the tobacco industry spends on advertising to youth is working. Eighty-six percent of kids who smoke prefer Marlboro, Camel, and Newport - the three most heavily advertised brands; only about one-third of adult smokers choose these brands. Marlboro, the most heavily advertised brand, constitutes almost 60 percent of the youth market, but only 25 percent of the adult market.

Please don't help the tobacco industry trick kids into thinking that using tobacco is cool. By removing the tobacco advertisements at your store, you will be protecting the children in your community. Please help us to save lives.

Sincerely, Members of C.O.S.T.