Date: Tue, May 15, 2001 10:05 AM

Subject: ban on advertisement for tobacco products

I encourage the FTC to ban all advertisements on tobacco products and to increase taxes on these products. Tobacco in all forms has place a heavy burden on the health care system by its harmful effects on users. The tobacco industry has shown over and over that its goal is to recruit youth to tobacco use. Most tobacco users start using these product before the age of 15 and the less than 15 year old market is clearly the target of the tobacco industry. Only when there is a total ban on all forms of advertising and taxing tobacco products to a level that will discourage experimentation by youth will we see an impact on the recruitment of young people to become tobacco users.

Disclaimer: The comments I am sending reflect my personal opinions and not those of West Virginia University and my comments are not to be construed as representing any official statement of the University.

Robert M. Howell