Tobacco.org

• From adversary to target market: the ACT-UP boycott of Philip Morris (Abstract) 

Conclusions: Unless the goal of a boycott is to convince the tobacco industry to abandon tobacco altogether, such actions invite the industry to expand its marketing under the guise of philanthropy. Tobacco control advocates should be clear about goals and acceptable settlement terms before participating in a boycott of a tobacco company.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban put on the back-burner 

This week the trade’s Charter Group revealed that 63 per cent of pubs in England and Wales are now compliant with the Charter – beating the minimum 50 per cent requirement agreed with the government.

But despite the good news, the Department of Health (DOH) says that “more must be done”.

The Charter promotes self-regulation on smoking through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.

Jump to full article »

• From adversary to target market: the ACT-UP boycott of Philip Morris 

Results: Philip Morris used the boycott to its own advantage. It exploited differences within the community and settled the boycott by pledging large donations to combat AIDS. Through corporate philanthropy, Philip Morris gained entrée to the LGBT market without appearing gay friendly. Many LGBT organisations, thirsty for recognition and funding from mainstream corporations, welcomed Philip Morris’s overtures without considering the health hazards of tobacco.

Conclusions: Unless the goal of a boycott is to convince the tobacco industry to abandon tobacco altogether, such actions invite the industry to expand its marketing under the guise of philanthropy. Tobacco control advocates should be clear about goals and acceptable settlement terms before participating in a boycott of a tobacco company. . . .

The boycott’s settlement ended any gains the boycott might have brought to the tobacco control movement. In addition to creating legitimacy and fostering dependence on industry largesse, tobacco company donations silence opposition.56 In a 1992 memo discussing questions raised at previous shareholder meetings, one Philip Morris vice president noted ACT-UP’s past criticisms of the company and added: "Considering that we met with them in May and agreed to donate $1,200,000 to AIDS-related organizations, they may decide not to raise the topic again."57 Indeed, we were unable to find reports of any subsequent ACT-UP protests against Philip Morris in the tobacco documents nor in a hand search of the Advocate, a leading national gay publication.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban gains support 

A study released Wednesday by a coalition of North Dakota health organizations showed a majority of North Dakotans support a smoking ban in most indoor places.

According to the Keep Kids Tobacco Free study, which polled 403 North Dakota voters, 73 percent said they would vote yes if a smoking ban were put to a vote.

Those results were not surprising to respiratory therapist Jay Taylor, himself a longtime smoker but now part of the movement to have cigarettes banned from public places.

Jump to full article »

Kiddie ciggie sales face crackdown 

VICTORIAN retailers caught selling cigarettes to children face an immediate $200 fine from today, with a maximum penalty of $5000.

Announcing the new zero tolerance policy, Victorian Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said she had lost patience with retailers who continued to flout the law by selling tobacco to minors.

Jump to full article »

No butts about it 

Herbert's Billiard Parlor in Secaucus has been seeing a bigger after-work crowd since New York banned smoking in bars and restaurants two months ago.

"We tell customers, 'If you can't smoke in New York City, then come here,'" owner Mel Gitler said.

Now, Gitler and tavern and restaurant owners across the state have their eye on Trenton, where pending legislation would impose on New Jersey the same air-tight restrictions Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced in New York.

It's not just eating and drinking establishments that would be affected: The legislation would prohibit smoking entirely at just about every business, including offices, factories and stores.

Jump to full article »

Appleton tobacco ban smolders amid delay 

A planned vote on a bid to ban smoking in all city-owned buildings and structures fizzled for the lack of its sponsor Wednesday.

But the issue itself continues to burn.

Appleton’s Board of Public Works delayed making a recommendation on the proposed ban because its sponsor, Ald. Edward Baranowski, was called out of town on business.

But Mayor Tim Hanna fumed at comments by board members who tried to extinguish the issue in Baranowski’s absence and who argued the panel lacks jurisdiction to even address a smoking prohibition in city-owned parking areas.

Jump to full article »

• Philip Morris targeted gays in 1990s, say documents 

In its push to find new smokers, tobacco giant Philip Morris targeted America's increasingly visible gay community as an enticing new market -- only to distance itself after negative publicity, according to once-secret industry documents examined by University of California-San Francisco researchers.

The researchers detail how, in the early 1990s, Philip Morris first began advertising Benson and Hedges cigarettes in gay-oriented publications as marketers touted the burgeoning community's brand loyalty and spending clout.

But as unfavorable news reports and some angry, conservative consumers questioned the cigarette maker's maintaining its macho ``Marlboro Man'' image, Philip Morris quickly emphasized that it was not targeting gays and downplayed its advertising in gay publications, saying that it was also advertising in Penthouse and Playboy.

The research article outlining the documents was released Wednesday and appears in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health. A related study focusing on a national AIDS advocacy group's 1990 boycott of Philip Morris also appears in the June issue of the journal Tobacco Control. . . .

ACT-UP intended to pressure both Philip Morris and Miller Brewing to withdraw support from U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, a leading opponent of gay civil rights and AIDS funding. But that effort died down, the researchers concluded, after Philip Morris co-opted key gay community leaders by agreeing to financially support HIV/AIDS advocacy groups.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban goes too far, some say 

Charleston's proposed ban on smoking virtually everywhere other than in homes and outdoors has alarmed some city business owners, who say the sweeping measure could cost them money and simply goes too far.

Some say the measure, which even prohibits separate smoking areas inside the workplace, is yet another example of a city government that is too aggressive in regulating behavior, and they are gearing up to battle the ban.

"We need to get together and unify and remove these people who want to run our lives," said Jeff Filosa, who owns the Portside Cafe downtown. "What's going to be next?"

Jump to full article »

Zero tolerance on ciggies to kids 

Retailers caught selling cigarettes to children will receive a $200 fine on the first instance.

The state government has announced a tough new zero tolerance policy for retailers caught selling cigarettes to children under the age of 18 - previously they received a warning notice.

Retailers caught continuing to flout the law can face fines of up to $5000 or lose the right to sell cigarettes.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said she had run out of patience with retailers who continued to sell cigarettes to children.

Jump to full article »

Philip Morris targeted gays in 1990s, say documents 

In its push to find new smokers, tobacco giant Philip Morris targeted America's increasingly visible gay community as an enticing new market -- only to distance itself after negative publicity, according to once-secret industry documents examined by University of California-San Francisco researchers.

The researchers detail how, in the early 1990s, Philip Morris first began advertising Benson and Hedges cigarettes in gay-oriented publications as marketers touted the burgeoning community's brand loyalty and spending clout.

But as unfavorable news reports and some angry, conservative consumers questioned the cigarette maker's maintaining its macho ``Marlboro Man'' image, Philip Morris quickly emphasized that it was not targeting gays and downplayed its advertising in gay publications, saying that it was also advertising in Penthouse and Playboy.

Jump to full article »

Is City Breathing Easier or Blowing Smoke? 

Estimates have it that nearly one-fourth of Americans are addicted to smoking. But there is a move in Appleton to make it much harder to light up downtown.

We all know it's difficult for smokers to quit, but soon it may be just as hard to find a place to smoke downtown if a proposal currently before a city committee is ultimately passed.

Everywhere you turn downtown you see them-- pockets of smokers curing midday stress with a cigarette.

Jump to full article »

Cannabis cafes face ban on smoking 

AMSTERDAM'S legendary status as the Mecca of the modern-day cannabis smoker is facing an unexpected threat by health regulations which aim to ban smoking in public places.

Under the new law, which comes into effect in January 2004, people still would be allowed to purchase marijuana in any of the Netherlands' 800 cannabis cafes and roll a joint there, but then would have to smoke it outside.

The move is aimed at targeting tobacco and the health impacts of passive smoking, not the notoriously liberal Dutch drugs policy. Even health campaigners backing the reform have been surprised at the consequences it will have for the legalised drug trade.

Jump to full article »

Dutch coffeeshop culture could go up in smoke 

Dutch coffeeshop owners were horrified today as the government put the final touches to a bill that will ban smoking in public places.

Smoking a cannabis joint in a Dutch coffeeshop has been as popular with tourists as taking a boat ride on Amsterdam's scenic canals.

But although the coffeeshops will be able to carry on selling marijuana, which is technically illegal in the Netherlands, customers will have to go outside now to smoke their purchases.

Jump to full article »

Legislation needed to deal with smoking 

WHILE some companies have taken the initiative and prohibited smoking in their work areas, more needs to be done at the national level, in the worldwide battle against the increase of death and disease caused by tobacco use.

The call is coming from director of the Tobacco Control Programme of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Tony Gale. Speaking to the Barbados Advocate yesterday, Gale added that as World No Tobacco Day approaches, the issues that surround the deadly effects of tobacco become more pressing and the need for appropriate legislation, even more evident.

Pointing out that the focus for this year's celebrations is on the role of fashion and film in promoting the use of tobacco, he said it only goes to making impressionable youth believe that the habit is popular and safe.

Jump to full article »