Summary
The paper examines the effect of long-term health-related and short-term social and physical antismoking information on adolescents’ beliefs about smoking. Findings from a UK school-based study indicate that antismoking information about the short-term effects of smoking, such as cosmetic (e.g. yellow teeth and fingernails and smelly clothes) and fitness, have a greater impact on beliefs than long-term health-related information. The implications for the design of antismoking campaigns are explored.

Summary
Targeting young people in their early teens before they have established a smoking habit may be critical to reducing smoking rates. Mass-media campaigns can play an important role in reaching large numbers of young people directly with prevention messages. Given the current level of debate in this area regarding which message theme is most appropriate, this study was conducted to explore young people’s views, attitudes and behaviours towards smoking, and examine young people’s response to different types of message appeal. A qualitative research design was employed and a total of 12 focus groups and 18 friendship pairs were conducted in England with 11–14-year-olds, half of whom were smokers and half of whom were experimenting with smoking. The results indicate that no single anti-smoking message appeal is likely to have universal appeal and that young people’s response to message appeals is mediated by the values they attach to smoking. Implications for future youth smoking prevention campaigns targeting young people in England are discussed.

Summary
Expanded consideration of a variety of concepts and methods, from associative learning to econometrics, lends further support to the accumulated consensus that tobacco advertising plays a role, with other factors, in inducing young people to smoke. A point by point rebuttal of issues raised by both Reitter (JAR 43, 1 [2003]: 12—13) and Taylor and Bonner (this issue) makes the case that tobacco advertising is not an exception to the rule: advertising works and it works in part by building primary demand. On a broader, more paradigmatic note, the role of correlation and causation are discussed within a convergence or triangulation framework.

Summary
In the March 2003 issue of the Journal of Advertising Research, Marvin Goldberg suggests that correlations found in his study correspond with findings of other studies and, hence, suggest a causal relationship between exposure to cigarette advertising (as well as promotional items and American movies) and the smoking-related behaviors of Hong Kong adolescents. In an earlier comment, Robert Reitter pointed out that the study provides no evidence of causality. We point out additional methodological flaws including inappropriate reclassification of data, the need to consider potential sources of bias, and lack of internal consistency of reported data. Additionally, the design of the study does not allow for a test of the proposed theories. We note that the study cites only literature that supports the author’s views on the effects of cigarette advertising. The weight of the evidence from the academic literature suggests that (1) advertising does not play a significant role in smoking initiation; (2) advertising does not increase primary demand for cigarettes; and (3) advertising bans do not appear to reduce demand for cigarettes in mature markets.

Summary
Because of the high social cost of cigarette smoking, many countries have imposed advertising restrictions to reduce cigarette consumption. Yet previous research suggests that such advertising constraints have been ineffective in combating smoking. We show that this conclusion is incorrect because it ignores the fact that advertising restrictions affect the extent of competition as well as demand. An advertising ban reduces competition which raises price and decreases consumption.

Summary
Many countries have imposed restrictions on tobacco advertising in the belief that these will curb tobacco consumption. These beliefs rely on the 'strong' theory of advertising, which holds that advertising exerts a powerful persuasive influence on consumers' behaviour. However, the research examining the advertising-consumption relationship has reached contradictory conclusions and led some to argue that such bans are ineffective.

Summary
In this regular update of legal and ethical issues current in the USA, the author discusses the privacy and tobacco debates of June 1998.

Summary
Bans on the advertising of tobacco products are often justified on the grounds that they will reduce smoking initiation by the young and tobacco consumption by adults. This premise can be seriously challenged on the basis of: (1) studies of juvenile smoking determinants; (2) the experience of countries with such an advertising ban; and (3) statistics on adult tobacco consumption in a variety of countries. As such, it provides no serious basis for public policy to curtail smoking through advertising bans.

Summary
This paper is a response by Murray Laugesen and Chris Meads to the article 'Tobacco Consumption and Advertising Restrictions: A Critique of Laugesen and Meads(1991)' by M. J. Stewart published in the International Journal of Advertising Volume 11 Number 2, 1992.

Summary
This paper is a comment by M. J. Stewart on the response by Murray Laugesen and Chris Meads to Stewart's article 'Tobacco Consumption and Advertising Restrictions: A Critique of Laugesen and Meads(1991)' published in the International Journal of Advertising Volume 11 Number 2, 1992.