2016 Photo Contest Winners Announcement

We asked our audience to submit photos showcasing tobacco industry marketing tactics and promotional strategies at the point of sale (POS), and we received nearly 50 great photos from 16 states and even as far away as Pakistan. The entries cover a wide range of problems at the point of sale, and beyond just the contest, we hope these photos will be used to continue POS advocacy work.

Grand Prize Winner

E-juice and snus right next to candy canes, Kit Kats, and Reeses Pieces — “E-juice and Snus right next to candy canes, Kit Kats, and Reeses Pieces” Captured by Nina Gregerson in Madison, Wisconsin

Winners have also been chosen in the following categories of tobacco industry activities at the POS:

Greatest Youth Appeal
Electronic Smoking Products and Vape Shops
Flavored Tobacco Products
Cheap Tobacco Products
Most Ironic

View all entries here and in our media gallery of store images and maps.

Greatest Youth Appeal – Winner

"Elsa and Anna want you to let your tobacco go" — “Elsa and Anna want you to let your tobacco go” Captured by Jonathan Chaffee in Wellsville, New York

Greatest Youth Appeal – Honorable Mention

“Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for…cigarettes?” Captured by Charles Futoran in Loveland, Colorado.

“Rack of little cigars/chewing tobacco next to a display for candy” Captured by Nina Gregerson in Madison, Wisconsin

1470675737_img_1433 — “Make sure to pick up your cherry slushy with your cigarettes!” Captured by Nina Gregerson in Oregon, Wisconsin.

Electronic Smoking Products and Vape Shops

Winner

Honorable Mention

Flavored Tobacco Products – Winner

1471539405_which_one_is_short_and_sweet_cropped — “Ad says SWEET elevent times under 3 feet in height, I wonder who they’re targeting? (Store is within 1/2 mile of 6 schools and one park)” Captured by Erika Mansur in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cheap Tobacco Products – Winner

1473183715_img_1546 — “Tobacco Products 50% Off” Captured by Nora Galley in South Buffalo, New York

Most Ironic – Winner

1471623111_b90hlgyiaae_t-9_crop — We <3 your Heart? Tobacco Products Don’t. Captured by Patrick Kwan in New York City, New York

Most Ironic – Honorable Mention

In addition to winners and honorable mentions for all categories, you can find all photo contest submissions along with other captivating images of POS tobacco industry tactics in our image gallery.

WHY DOES COUNTER TOBACCO HOST AN ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST?

The Surgeon General has concluded that “advertising and promotional activities by tobacco companies have been shown to cause the onset and continuation of smoking among adolescents and young adults.” [1] The tobacco industry spends the majority of their marketing budget at the point of sale promoting its deadly products. [2] CounterTobacco.org is dedicated to providing tools and resources to counteract retail tobacco product sales and marketing. The photo contest and image gallery expose the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics in hopes of educating communities, and especially youth, about the dangers of tobacco retail marketing. Education and exposure of the industries’ tactics are critical to building awareness and serve as a first step in the policy change process. These photos offer tobacco control advocates a powerful tool to show what is happening at the point of sale.

With the tobacco industry wielding its influence and dollars at the point of sale, policy changes at the federal, state, and local levels are critical. Learn more about counteracting retail tobacco products sale and marketing.