Final answer:
Tobacco advertising has evolved from promoting smoking without health warnings to being strictly regulated with mandatory health warnings. Despite the implementation of sin taxes and educational programs, tobacco's inelastic demand and cultural counter-reforms present challenges in reducing consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceptability and advertising of tobacco use have undergone significant changes over time. Historically, tobacco advertisements were prolific and often did not highlight the health risks associated with smoking. In stark contrast, today's tobacco advertising is highly regulated, with mandatory warning labels and restrictions intended to reduce consumption. The 1998 lawsuit against American tobacco companies resulted in a major shift, enforcing payments to states for health-care costs incurred from smoking-related illnesses and the adoption of 'sin taxes'.
Despite these measures, the inelastic nature of tobacco means that consumption rates have not drastically decreased among current users, showing that taxes alone may not deter hardcore smokers. Educational programs, while contributing to public awareness, also face challenges in convincing smokers to quit, as many are already aware of the risks but continue to smoke owing to addiction or other reasons. Moreover, tobacco smoking's cultural counter-reform persists, with historical industry denial of health risks clashing with scientific evidence.