Do you really think that anything even remotely encouraging the impressionable and immature "youth" to use tobacco (and its already discussed health effects) is worth some $$$? If lives are worth a little bit more money for the industry to you, then honestly you make me sick.
It's easy to talk about people's lives that you don't know in a detached way when you're on the internet, but just think about family or close friends suffering/dying directly caused by tobacco addiction. I never knew my grandma because she had a stroke before I was born, and has been totally out of it the whole time I've been alive. I honestly can't accept anything that leads to a smoking addiction, because it's completely preventable.
With all the citations and all that for how youth are definitely influenced by ads, along with being an active NS member and seeing all the dick-sucking of people's favorite pros, in addition to total gear whoreishness for anything those pros use, it seems logical that allowing ads promoting tobacco use to be in the skiing industry can lead to addictions in "youth". No, one ad isn't going to make someone try snus. But that one ad means a change in standards and a likelihood that more will follow. And it'll put the idea in their mind, remind them that the product exists. Some kids are gonna be curious and try it. Some of those kids will become addicted, and have unnecessary health issues.
That said, some of my friends and people I respect smoke/chew/dip, and I have no problem with the fact that they do it (other than the fact that in Canada taxpayers cover the health bills that tobacco causes). Like Frodo said, everything is hidden from plain view, so unless you are looking for a pack of cigs you won't see them. There aren't any ads for the products on TV or billboards (except anti-smoking ones and nicorette), and the only way people see them is when people see them in person. People can't smoke within like 3 meters (like 10 feet) of doorways of public places. This method works for me.
Tobacco ads shouldn't be in skiing mags either.
-K. K.
And would any of the smokers in this thread be willing to tell me why they do it? Like I'm legit curious. PM an answer if you don't want to get personal in this thread.