Arizona children are vulnerable to age-inappropriate advertisements via text and email. Although it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages to youths under 21 and, in most states, to sell tobacco products to teenagers under 18, the alcohol and tobacco industries actively target young people with advertising and promotions. Alcohol and tobacco use are two of the most common risk factors for preventable diseases, injuries, and premature death. Alcohol use by youth is also associated with motor vehicle injuries, suicide, and homicide, all of which are significant causes of adolescent mortality.
They are not the only companies actively working to promote their products; we see the same efforts in pornography and gambling industry as well. Marketers know that if they hook a child young, often they create a bond of brand loyalty and will have a customer for life. Unfortunately, we also know that when dealing with these off-limit products that lifespan may be a lot shorter and much less enjoyable. Working together, we can limit the reach of these companies to our children.