PEDIATRICS Vol. 89 No. 1 January 1992, pp. 27-31
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Candy Cigarettes: Do They Encourage Children's Smoking?

Jonathan D. Klein MD, MPH1, Billie Forehand 2, Janice Oliveri 2, Charlotte J. Patterson PhD3, Janis B. Kupersmidt PhD4, and Victor Strecher PhD5

1 From the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and the Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2 From the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
3 From the Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
4 From the Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
5 From the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Candy and bubble gum cigarettes are packaged to resemble cigarette brands, and so they may encourage young children to smoke. Two studies of the role of these products in the development of children's attitudes and behaviors toward smoking were conducted. In the first study, six focus group interviews were conducted with 25 children in three age groups (4 through 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 11 years old). Children in each group were shown five candy and snack foods and asked about their opinions and experiences with each item. In the second study, 195 seventh-grade students in a southeastern city school system were surveyed about their cigarette smoking and candy cigarette use. In the focus groups, candy cigarettes were recognized by most children. Young children played with the candy cigarettes more than with other candy or snack items and made general references to smoking behaviors. Older children made favorable references to smoking behavior; most knew which stores sold candy cigarettes, and many had chosen to buy and use these items, despite parental disapproval. Candy cigarettes may play a role in the development of children's attitudes toward smoking as an acceptable, favorable, or normative behavior. Elimination of these products should be part of efforts to prevent initiation of smoking by children.

Key Words: smoking • prevention

Submitted on December 3, 1990
Accepted on April 4, 1991




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