Reality Check students take part in press conference

Students in a BOCES-run youth advocacy program joined with the American Cancer Society and other New York State Tobacco Control Program partners on Nov. 17 to help raise awareness of the prevalence and dangers of tobacco advertising in area stores.

Above, student Thomas Aviles was interviewed by area media after the November 17 press conference.

Five students from the Watervliet High School branch of Capital Region Reality Check took part in the press conference. Reality Check is a program funded by the New York State Department of Health and run by BOCES that works with teens to expose the manipulative marketing practices of the tobacco industry.

The teens made an undercover video of what students encounter on a typical walk home from Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School. Student Thomas Aviles introduced the video at the press conference on Wednesday:

"A teenager should be able to walk home from school and stop at the local store for a snack without being assaulted by the tobacco industry," he said. "Unfortunately, this is not the case in communities throughout New York." Aviles noted that within a one-mile walk they passed five stores with tobacco advertising inside and outside the stores. "It is time that our communities demand that tobacco displays be covered," he said. "Kids should be protected from becoming the tobacco industry's replacement smokers."

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Richard Daines confirmed the students' findings and announced data from an observational study of stores around New York State, which found:

89 percent of stores featured tobacco product displays behind the cash register.

25 percent of tobacco ads appeared near toys and/or candy.

82 percent of stores featured tobacco advertising inside.

15 percent of stores selling tobacco were located within 1,000 feet of a school.

Daines noted that while there are strong programs aimed at helping prevent children and teenagers from smoking, the tobacco industry is a difficult opponent. "We are up against an industry that in 2006 spent $12.5 billion nationally on marketing — more than the amount spent to market junk food, soda and alcohol combined." He urged retailers to remove tobacco product displays from public view, since these displays have been found to be a major cause of youth smoking.

Reality Check Coordinators Amanda Hooker and Laura Waterhouse said they are very proud of the students. "This was a great opportunity for our students to have their work showcased with such a distinguished group of presenters," Hooker said.

Above, Reality Check students who participated in the press conference were, from left: Thomas Aviles, Aminika Galusha, Jessica Mahoney, Justin Aviles and Chela Blackman.

Great American Smokeout

The press conference also previewed this year's Great American Smokeout, which was Thursday, November 18. The annual event is meant to encourage those who smoke to either quit or make a plan for quitting that day. If you smoke and want to quit, visit www.iwillquit.org.