[Tobacco advertising and printed mass media in Spain: a fatal attraction].
OBJECTIVE
Tobacco advertising is a powerful factor in encouraging smoking initiation. We analyzed tobacco advertising in written mass media in Spain between 2002 and 2005.


METHODS
We performed an annual cross-sectional study of advertisements in the 41 most widely disseminated written mass media (nearly 10 million readers).


RESULTS
In the period studied, 37% of the media included tobacco advertising (an average of 4.35 million readers). Only 4% of the media included anti-drug campaigns (an average of 0.27 million readers). Tobacco advertising increased from 2.0 to 4.7% (overall) and from 4.3 to 8.0% (in media allowing tobacco advertising). Four out of every 10 readers and one out of eight Spaniards aged 15 years or older were exposed to tobacco advertising. Fifty-six percent of advertisements included young people.


CONCLUSIONS
Tobacco advertising remains prominent in written mass media in Spain and was mainly directed at young people.
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Meixoeiro-Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Vigo, Pontevedra, España. julio.montes.santiago@sergas.es
Julio
J
Montes
María L
ML
Alvarez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D019460:Tobacco Industry