GUEST OPINION: DON'T WASTE DOLLARS ON ANTI-SMOKING ADS

I believe, generally speaking, that government has the very best of intentions. There is ample evidence to the contrary, but I still believe the purpose of government is to achieve the best results for the most people. And that is obviously no easy task.

But I stand befuddled sometimes when I hear of government plans that seem too patently ill-founded as to defy the imagination. Today's befuddlement comes from a proposal to spend five times the amount of money in Missouri than we currently spend on anti-smoking advertising aimed at children. The purpose is indeed a noble one, but the chances for success are limited beyond belief.

I strongly agree that we should make every effort to discourage smoking among teen-agers. We should fine those retailers who sell to minors. Maybe we should even limit teen driving privileges for cigarette violations. We should take every means possible to discourage smoking, and that might include raising cigarette prices to limit their access to teens who have limited resources for the most part.

But it seems foolish to me to mount more advertising campaigns when the clear statistics show that they have little impact. Missouri currently spends $5 million annually to educate youngsters against smoking. A state panel now wants to up that amount to $24 million. I doubt there is a teen out there who does not know of the dangers of smoking. We have most effectively told the story and have provided the warnings. But peer pressure and the nature of youth will always combine to form an attraction for cigarettes. More advertising won't help.

To get government more into the issue, the panel also wants retailers to buy a cigarette license in order to sell tobacco products. Now that doesn't make sense to me either. If a liquor store sells booze to a minor on more than one occasion, it can be shut down for a period of time. Try the same solution for cigarette retailers.

There is not a child in our society who has not heard the anti-smoking message. And that is a good thing. But sending that same message more times will not have the impact state officials hope. And those extra millions of dollars might just be spent more wisely.

-- Michael Jensen, Standard-Democrat, Sikeston.