Daily Doc: TI, May 9, 1989: 'Youth Programs Could Reduce Sales...'
Daily Doc: "Youth Programs Could Reduce Sales..."
Title: TOBACCO ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS WORKING GROUP REPORT STRATEGY III
TI, May 9, 1989
Bates #: TIMN0171360/1369
TI Site: http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=TIMN0171360/1369&if=avtidx
February 5, 2001
If there is any shred of doubt left about the absolute lack of sincerity in the tobacco industry's "kids-don't-smoke" programs, here is yet another document describing the real reasons the industry has "youth programs." The interesting thing is that this document wrestles with the pros and cons of such programs. The first big misgiving noted is that such programs could decrease tobacco sales, both in the short and long term. However, consensus was that looming restrictions on marketing and advertising would be more damaging than doing nothing. Here is the quote about the negative of decreasing tobacco sales:
"Concern: There is some risk that efforts to discourage youth smoking could decrease tobacco sales, both immediately and over the long term.Thus the tobacco industry opted for the lesser of two evils, adopting "youth programs" being the lesser.
This is true. However, the group agreed that, in the absence of credible industry efforts to address the youth smoking issue, various types of potential legislative and regulatory action would have a much more serious impact upon tobacco sales."
Here industry representatives describe being forced into having "youth programs":
"The youth smoking issue puts the industry in a 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' situation. Even the most sincere industry efforts cannot be expected to sway anti-smoking hard-liners, who will merely suspect that the campaign has ulterior motives. However, the potential 'damned if you don't' ramifications are serious enough to warrant actions. "According to the industry, the goals for their "youth programs" are not to reduce the number of children who become addicted to a deadly product, but rather to:
"Provide ammunition to tobacco allies (legislators and others) to oppose unfair restrictions, Enhance the industry's overall ability to gain and maintain allies, Weaken a key argument of tobacco foes..."
CITATION
Title: TOBACCO ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS WORKING GROUP REPORT STRATEGY III
Type of Document: Report, confidential
Author: N/A
Recipient: N/A
Date: 19895009
Site: http://www.tobaccodocuments.org/
Page Count 10
Bates No. TIMN0171360/1369
URL: http://www.tobaccodocuments.org/view.cfm?docid=TIMN0171360/1369&source=SNAPTI&ShowImages=yes
Litigation Usage: N/A
Found using search criteria: "strategy and confidential" on TDO
QUOTES
INTRODUCTION
This document is the result of a working session on advertising restrictions held on May 3, 1989. The recommendations were produced to address Strategy III of the Institute's public affairs plan on ad ban issues:
Demonstrate that the industry does not want children to use its products and has taken positive steps to discourage such use. . .
In short, we recommend that the Institute undertake an enhanced program of activities on the youth smoking issue, including new tactics designed to create a more activist and credible image...
Concern: There is some risk that efforts to discourage youth smoking could decrease tobacco sales, both immediately and over the long term.
This is true. However, the group agreed that, in the absence of credible industry efforts to address the youth smoking issue, various types of potential legislative and regulatory action would have a much more serious impact upon tobacco sales.
The youth smoking issue presents substantial problems for the industry, both as a general detractions from the industry's image and as a focal point for legislative and regulatory activity designed to restrict tobacco advertising and promotion. ...It is also used to support excise tax increases and unfavorable legislation, and generally as a weapon to attack the industry's image and credibility... Any effective activities in this area must be able to withstand scrutiny by media, policy makers and others... The youth smoking issue puts the industry in a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" situation. Even the most sincere industry efforts cannot be expected to sway anti-smoking hard-linters, who will merely suspect that the campaign has ulterior motives. However, the potential "damned if you don't" ramifications are serious enough to warrant actions.
...Goals
As defined by the Strategy III working group, the specific goals of Strategy III are
To:
Provide ammunition to tobacco allies (legislators and others) to oppose unfair restrictions, Enhance the industry's overall ability to gain and maintain allies, Weaken a key argument of tobacco foes,
Help build the industry's image by demonstrating a sense of responsibility and corporate citizenship, Enhance credibility by formulating strong programs and implementing them aggressively...
This service is brought to you by the American Lung Association of Colorado ( http://www.alacolo.org/) and Smokescreen ( http://www.smokescreen.org)
To join Doc-Alert, go to http://tobaccodocuments.org/, scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter your email address in the box marked "Daily Document Newsletter," and click *subscribe.*
Visit the Daily Document Archives at http://www.smokescreen.org/list/viewmsgs.cfm?id=66, or, for quick and easy at-a-glance viewing, try Gene Borio's great new Daily Document Archive at http://www.tobacco.org/Documents/dd/dd.html
Anne Landman, Regional Program Coordinator
American Lung Association of Colorado, West Region Office
Grand Junction, CO
(970) 245-2120
afoxland@gj.net
***********************
Go To: Tobacco BBS HomePage / Resources Page / Health Page / Documents Page / Culture Page / Activism Page
***********************
END OF DOCUMENT