Tobacco Documents Online

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE 1875 I STREET. NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202/457-4800 9 800/424-9876 September 21, 1984 It's no secret that youngsters today learn more things at school than just schoolwork. Often their peers instruct: them in the ways of the adult world. For example, smoking. Against their parents' wishes. And against ours. That's the way cigarette manufacturers feel -- that: smoking is among many behaviors that should be left to adults, like driving, voting, raising a family, and knowing enough to make an informed decision about all sorts of adult activities. Because we do feel that way, The Tobacco Institute has joined with the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) in development of a new public service program to assist parents in helping their young teenagers learn sound decision-making skills. We all know the difficulty parents can sometimes have communicating with their children. So we are especially proud that our industry is in partnership with NASBE to offer a new booklet, called "Helping Youth Decide." It is designed to foster easier and more effective communication between parents and children so we may teach our youngsters to deal well with the many decisions they face on the way to adulthood. The cigarette manufacturers of America do not want youngsters to smoke. We hope that with parental guidance in learning to make wise decisions, they will postpone any decision on smoking until the choice is based on mature, informed judgment. Together, NASBE and The Tobacco Institute will provide free copies of the booklet, "Helping Youth Decide," to individuals and groups through a broad advertising campaign in newspapers and popular magazines read predominantly by parents, beginning in late September. Our booklet, the ad that will introduce it, and the details of thA advertising campaign, are included in this preview kit. If the purpose of the booklet is pertinent to you and your family, we hope you'll keep it and find it useful. If it is not, we hope you'll pass it along to parents who will use it. But after the September 25, 1984, release date, please. Curtis H. Judge Chairman Executive Committee TIMN 0013806