Did they change the regulations about tobacco ads on T.V.?

[Haggard Celine]

I just saw a Swisher Sweet cigar ad on tv. I don't remember when I last saw a tobacco commercial. Will they be doing cigarette commercials next? I smoke, and I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I would like to know what's going on.

[John1956PA]

1. Maybe there are different regulations when is comes to broadcast TV versus cable.

Also, after the 1971 ban on cigarette ads on broadcast TV, cigar commercials continued. He is a link for a 1988 commercial for Garcia Vega cigars:

[Haggard Celine]

2. This is on a channel that I pick up with my antenna, so

It's broadcast tv. They had a little warning about what can happen to cigar smokers. I guess they're letting them do the commercials as long as they include the warning. I guess if they can have liquor commercials, they might as well let them advertise tobacco too.

[Yeller]

3. We have seen a general downturn

In youth using alcohol and tobacco, which is good. There has to be relation to advertising. Sadly and disgustingly advertising has shifted to worse drugs like THC/CBD/Ketamine and others with the increases of use of course.

[Haggard Celine]

4. Yeah, advertising has an impact.

I remember seeing cigarette ads in magazines when I was young. They always showed people enjoying themselves in some activity and looking happy. In recent years they've had commercials about the dangers of smoking, so I think that has had an effect on the younger people. But if you ban one thing, some other problem always pops up. Humans love their chemicals!

[Yeller]

5. Humans are incredibly weak when it comes to drugs

But also gambling, which has been a plague. It was better when there was heavy friction to gamble, had to go to Vegas or Atlantic City.

These are the things that need to be addressed. Drugs and gambling. Not just general entertainment that need to be somehow 'age restricted' like the madness going on in California now which is the opposite of sanity.

[Haggard Celine]

6. Governments are addicted to tax revenue from legal drugs and gambling.

So I don't expect lawmakers to do much about it. They seem to be moving in the direction of creating sin taxes instead of having income taxes. And sin taxes are regressive taxes. They'll do anything but tax the rich bastards who give them money.

[Yeller]

7. The government is the problem

They are complicit. The bans need to come from higher up, but the 'people' addicts don't want them, and they vote.