The advanced survey found that teens are not fooled by tobacco companies. A large minority agree that tobacco companies deliberately target teenagers and children in their marketing strategies (42%) and that tobacco company sponsorship of sporting and cultural events was another way of encouraging people to smoke (44%). These responses are similar to that for all B.C. residents.

The same opinions were found in the focus groups with teen smokers. Specific examples teens gave of marketing to children were mostly related to activities in the United States such as distributing free kiddie packs or packaging with cartoons. However, the teen smokers we talked to did not consider themselves to be the target. Teen smokers also saw that sponsorship of events like the fireworks, tennis tournaments, festivals and race cars were just another marketing tool but as with the advertising, teens do not feel they are affected by these tactics. Of course they are to some extent and few comments reflected this (e.g., trying Benson and Hedges after being at the fireworks just to see what they were like).

In general, teen smokers realize that tobacco companies are in it for the money just like any other business. They recognize that they are trying to make as much money as possible and that they are using smokers’ addiction to the product to reap those profits. Alas, they do not put much responsibility on tobacco companies for their action since they see smoking as a free choice for each individual and one for which the individual has to take responsibility.