Truth be told, tobacco companies rely on manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics. Like targeting young women with cigarettes highly stylized for feminine appeal, throwing parties in clubs, and offering free cigarettes in gift bags. Sadly, a few women still fall for these tricks, thinking they can quit anytime and then learning they can't. BTW, smoking dries out your skin, causes wrinkles, and ages your appearance. Not exactly the fountain of youth.

• The most popular cigarette brands among youth are the most heavily advertised and promoted.
• A report prepared for Philip Morris by its ad agency said, "The objective is to get behind the consumer's thinking on a wide range of subjects… The intention is to isolate the specific influences and concerns of our key consumer goups identifying their priorities… needs… fears… desires/likes…"
• In 2004 RJ Reynolds paid an $11.4 million penalty to settle a suit accusing the tobacco company of marketing to teens in magazines such as InStyle.

But wait, there's MORE

On August 17, 2006, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kesseler issued a federal opinion in the federal government's lawsuit against major tobacco companies. It was found that the tobacco companies (the defendants):

• violated civil racketeering laws.
• defrauded the American public by lying over decades about the health risks of tobacco.
• did market to children.
• continue to deceive the public by "recruiting new smokers (the majority of whom are under the age of 18), preventing current smokers from quitting, and thereby sustaining the industry."