We won't be bought!

The Youth Bureau administered the Genesee/Orleans/Wyoming Reality Check Program.  Reality Check teens ages 13-18 aim to expose the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry actively exploits and markets a deadly and addictive product that is enticing to youth.  Through grassroots activities, media campaigns and political education, Reality Check strives to produce changes in our communities.

Importantly, Reality Check is NOT anti-smoker; teens try show the lies the industry feeds to young people to get them to replace all their dying customers.  If people quit smoking, they’ll lose customers and money.

BIG TOBACCO spends billions of dollars to market its deadly products in our stores including paying retailers to prominently display tobacco products, in-store advertising, price discounts and other in-store promotions.

Exposure to tobacco marketing in stores is a primary cause of youth smoking.

Every day, children are exposed to a tremendous amount of tobacco marketing in our grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies. To protect our children, our state must reduce youth exposure to in store tobacco marketing.  In 2006, tobacco companies spent $12.5 billion nationally on advertising, promotions, and price discounts for wholesalers and retailers. That is more than the amount spent to market junk food, soda and alcohol combined.

Tobacco companies place most of their advertising where young people shop-- in convenience stores, where 75% of teenagers shop at least once a week.

For more information about Reality Check, contact Kyla McCormick or Chelsea Dillon, Program Coordinators.  You can also visit the NYS Reality Check website for more information.