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Only if you think bad breath, smelly hair, yellow fingers and coughing are sexy. Ads portray smoking as glamorous, sophisticated and sexy, but think about who created these ads.
In public statements tobacco executives claim that they do not market to youth. Internal tobacco-industry documents tell a different story. The quotes below show that tobacco ads affect youth and that the tobacco companies consider children to be their next generation of customers.
"Cherry Skoal (chew tobacco) is for somebody who likes the taste of candy, if you know what I'm saying."
A Former U.S. Tobacco sales representative, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, 1994
"If you are really and truly not going to sell to children, you are going to be out of business in 30 years."
Benett Lebow, CEO of Brook Group Ltd. (makers of Lark and L&M cigarettes)
"If our company is to survive and prosper over the long term, we must get our share of the youth market. Thus, a new brand aimed at the young smoker must somehow become the 'in' brand..."
Excerpts from an internal R.J. Reynolds memo, 1973
"They got lips? We want them."
Reply of an RJ Reynolds representative when asked the age of the kids they were targeting.
Last updated March 2010
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