American journal of preventive medicine
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From 1975 through 1984, expenditures by cigarette companies related to the distribution of free cigarette samples increased from $24.2 million to $148.0 million. When adjusted by the consumer price index, expenditures increased more than three-fold. During this period, the proportion of total cigarette advertising and promotional expenditures devoted to sampling increased from 4.9% to 7.1%. ⋯ Seventy-four percent of the college students, including 70% of current smokers, supported an ordinance that would ban cigarette sampling. These data provide evidence that the cigarette industry's voluntary code against distributing free cigarette samples to minors is not being strictly followed. Legislation prohibiting cigarette sampling, which at least 12 cities have adopted, is an effective way to prevent the distribution of free cigarettes to minors.