Tough tobacco warnings are truth in advertising

I wholeheartedly agree with the Nov. 12 editorial [“New cigarette warning labels are welcome”] regarding cigarette warning labels.

Tobacco use has become such a huge part of our culture. It takes an introspective heart to realize that “the way things have always been” isn’t the best way. And allowing a deadly substance to be openly marketed with minimal restrictions is wrong.

I had an epiphany recently when I went into a convenience store to get milk. I was mesmerized by a beautiful back-lit western scene that stretched across the wall behind the register. And then a thought hit me — would we allow other “adult” products to be displayed gratuitously behind the candy at our corner stores?

Tobacco is not a familiar friend, it is a product that, when used as directed, will cause death and disease. The new graphic warnings are truth in advertising.

As concerned community members, we need to do whatever we can to keep another generation of New Yorkers from falling prey to the tobacco industry’s wiles.

Rebecca Manwaring
Amsterdam
The writer is director of the Project ACTION Tobacco-Free Coalition of Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery counties.