Outrageous Advertising

Question of the Month
January 2001

When writing letters to people and institutions (e.g. Philip Morris peer reviewers or Nottingham University) asking them cut their ties to the tobacco industry, it is useful to cite outrageous examples of the industry's conduct at home and abroad. The more vivid and up-to-date the better. In searching the web, we've found very few current and comprehensive compilations of tobacco industry promotional activities in the U.S. and abroad. So, we'd like to create a quick and easy one to reference! In the future, your examples will help all of us when composing letters, writing articles, designing education and cessation programs, and working with the media.

Question: What are some of the most outrageous ways that tobacco corporations currently market and promote their products, create positive PR, or exercise political influence in your community, state and/or country?

Please offer as many details as possible (e.g. what company & brand, when, where, who, how). Examples of how the industry blatantly ignores or gets around tobacco control legislation would be particularly useful.

This is a great opportunity to compare and contrast the operations of multinational tobacco corporations at home and abroad. Many strategies may be similar. Others may differ greatly, highlighting glaring double standards, e.g. Philip Morris hands out free cigarettes to minors in Asia, but not in the U.S.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES