Today Is 'Kick Butts Day' To Keep Kids Tobacco-Free

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This is the 16th annual Kick Butts Day, which was designed to help keep young people tobacco-free.

Kids across the country are taking part in Kick Butts Day and Melissa Rankin, co-chair of Chester  County Tobacco-Free Coalition, says activities range from handing out leaflets to discussing the harmful effects of smoking, to. writing essays and reading them during a public event.

"How tobacco directly impacted their lives, their concerns about tobacco, how they should be protected from tobacco their thoughts about the tobacco industry, so it's an activity a forum for the kids to make their voices heard," Rankin says the goal is to keep kids smoke-free and send the message to tobacco company officials not to target young people in their advertising.

Reported by Lynne Adkins, KYW Newsradio