Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105294

Bonnie Lai, Nadia S. Islam, MA, and Simona C. Kwon, MPH. Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 7th Floor, Rm 732, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-9079, BL2133@columbia.edu

Objective: Tobacco point-of-purchase (POP) advertising has a pervasive presence in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The Tobacco-Not-Tolerated [TNT] Tobacco Advertising Restrictions Campaign, a community-based advocacy project, sought to reduce the amount of tobacco POP advertising in AAPI neighborhoods in Queens, New York.

Methods: Community support was generated for a set of proposed restrictions limiting the amount and placement of tobacco advertisements inside and outside of retail stores. Community-based organizations (CBOs) and small business associations (SBAs) were contacted and asked to sign a petition. Collaboration with New York City Council Member, John C. Liu, was also formed to introduce formal legislation to protect youth from tobacco ads.

Results: 25 CBOs and SBAs agreed to sign the petition in support of the proposed restrictions. Council Member Liu introduced a bill to prohibit tobacco ads placed lower than three feet from the ground (eye-level of a child) and tobacco ads placed within two feet of candy or toy displays. The Council could not pursue the bill further due to a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision which stated that such laws were pre-empted by a federal law and were unconstitutional based on First Amendment rights protecting commercial speech. The Youth Services Committee of the Council has vowed to pass a resolution appealing to the federal government to allow cities and states to regulate tobacco POP advertising.

Conclusion: Community-based advocacy campaigns can successfully produce political responsiveness and community awareness in reducing tobacco POP advertising.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, a participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize the prevalence of tobacco point-of-purchase (POP) advertising in Asian American communities.
• Develop a community-based advocacy campaign to reduce tobacco POP advertising.
• Articulate the difficulties of proposing legislation to reduce tobacco POP advertising.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.