Why does the tobacco industry pay retailers to prominently display tobacco products?
As governments restrict other types of promotion and promotion, retail displays have become an increasingly crucial part of the tobacco industry’s strategy. In Canada retail displays are the most important category of tobacco industry marketing expenditure today. In 2005, the Canadian tobacco industry paid retailers $100.1 million dollars to display its products in vast quantities far more than is necessary to supply consumers. Again this makes tobacco products appear to be more popular than they are. This promotion is an important factor in encouraging youth initiation since it encourages youth to believe that many people smoke and smoking is a normal part of everyday life. Studies show most youth overestimate the percentage of the population who smoke and the degree of this overestimation is a predictor of starting smoking. Youth also tend to underestimate the addictive properties of tobacco. Power walls contribute to spontaneous purchases and impulse buys. A highly visible wall of t
