Everyone has a big stake in tobacco. Smokers who become sick often wind up using tax money to help pay for their medical bills, while nonsmokers are put at risk when they breathe in the toxins from other people's cigarettes. Tobacco policies, laws, and regulations are intended to protect everyone—smokers and nonsmokers alike. Another main goal is to discourage young people from ever starting to smoke in the first place. Federal, state, and city governments have tried to achieve these goals by several means. Some of the most important are product labels, advertising restrictions, clean air rules, bans on sales to minors, special taxes, laws to prevent smuggling, and lawsuits against tobacco companies.

Labels and Advertising

In 1964 the U.S. surgeon general's first report on tobacco and health was issued. The next year, a federal law was passed requiring...