Big Tobacco Now Targeting LGBT, Native American Communities
While tobacco companies face strict limits on what, where, when, why, and to whom they can advertise their products, in recent years Big Tobacco has started to zero in on certain marginalized groups.
Specifically, some tobacco companies are marketing their products to the Navajo Nation here in Arizona and LGBTQ youth across the country.
In a report from the American Cancer Society, researchers found that tobacco marketing in Arizona is deeply connected with Indian stores, bingo halls, and casinos. Not only are tobacco stores often located extremely close to Native American gaming casinos, but because of lower taxes on tribal territory, reservation cigarette stores offer better prices, helping to attract a high volume of customers.
During an average week, a single Indian tobacco st...