Did Joe Camel inspire children to smoke?
From Wikipedia: “In 1991, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study showing that more children 5 and 6 years old could recognize Joe Camel than could recognize Mickey Mouse or Fred Flintstone” And while that may be true, recognition doesn’t mean everything. Throughout the ad’s run (1988-93), youth smoking actually went down, especially among the youngest smokers. Youth smoking didn’t climb again until 1993–when the ad was dropped. In fact, over the last 25 years, advertising and promotion spending by cigarette companies have been inversely related to patterns in teen smoking. Personally, I remember commercials, and I remember commercials from my childhood, but half the time I can’t even remember what they’re advertising. Plus, the ’80s and ’90s were a time when afterschool specials were rampant and celebrities had the merit to tell kids to stay in school and stand up to peer pressure. There were forces out there trying to fight whatever the camel could kick up.
