UV Tanning Advertisements in High School Newspapers

Comparison of advertising strategies between the indoor tanning and tobacco industries

“…19,20 Our analysis similarly identified that indoor tanning advertisers use this strategy of specific population targeting, in addition to 3 others: mitigating health concerns, appealing to a sense of social acceptance, and emphasizing tanning's psychotropic effects.…”

“…Tanning ads, for example, were found in 48% of high-school newspapers surveyed in one recent study. 20 Eighteen separate establishments placed the 40 tanning ads, 15 of which offered unlimited tanning for periods of up to 4 months. Nearly half (19) of the ads mentioned discounts requiring student identification or were labeled as ''prom specials.''…”

“…Nearly half (19) of the ads mentioned discounts requiring student identification or were labeled as ''prom specials.'' 20 In conclusion, smoking, which currently accounts for an estimated 438,000 deaths and $167 billion in annual health-related economic losses, has eroded the health of generations of Americans and placed an ongoing burden on the US healthcare system. 51 Regrettably, these enormous public health costs could have been largely avoided if regulatory action and proper consumer education had not been so Body conscious.…”

“…[14][15][16] Yet, in spite of the growing evidence of indoor tanning's health risks, the tanning industry continues to grow, with 2007 domestic sales in excess of $5 billion. 17 While research has suggested that individuals tan for multiple reasons, 18 only a few studies, including those by Kwon et al 19 and Freeman et al, 20 have examined the effect of tanning industry advertising on its intended targets. However, these discussions of indoor tanning have typically focused on specific promotional elements rather than presented a comprehensive framework for marketing strategies.…”

Enacting legislation to restrict youth access to tanning beds: A survey of advocates and sponsoring legislators

“…9 Tanning bed establishments use tactics such as advertising in local newspapers to target high school students and increase youth exposure to tanning. 3,22 A key method to counter this tactic would be to draft legislation that limits or prohibits tanning advertisements targeting minors in local newspapers. 3 One study also found a correlation between the number of tanning facilities and white race as well as a greater percentage of girls and women aged 15 to 29 years according to census data.…”