 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Pamela Ling, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Box 0320, San Francisco, CA 94143, 415/514-1492, pling@medicine.ucsf.edu and Stanton A Glantz, PhD, University of California, San Francisco, Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education, 530 Parnassus Ave., Suite 366, San Francisco, CA 94143-1390.
Significance: Previous studies have shown tobacco industry political strategies to undermine clean indoor air laws; this study examines tobacco marketing strategies designed to do the same. Objective: Describe tobacco industry views of smoking restrictions, their effect on the social acceptability of smoking, and industry attempts to counter these measures with new products. Methods: analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents Results: The tobacco industry has devoted considerable effort to studying smokers’ and nonsmokers’ views of clean air policies, and tracking the level of social pressure smokers feel not to smoke. In addition to reducing smokers’ cigarette consumption, smoking restrictions significantly undermine the social acceptability of smoking. Young smokers are particularly sensitive to social pressures not to smoke, and most likely to react by limiting their smoking or quitting. Tobacco marketing researchers documented a “consumer need” for more socially acceptable products, and for many years, the tobacco industry has attempted to develop more socially acceptable cigarettes (such as those with less visible or sidestream smoke, or less odor). These products were generally unsuccessful. Subsequently, the tobacco industry explored public opinion campaigns to affect the social acceptability of smoking. Conclusions: Clean indoor air policies have a powerful effect on the social acceptability of smoking. Historically, the tobacco industry has had little success countering these effects by developing more socially acceptable cigarettes. These data suggest clean air policies are a point of strength for public health and weakness for the tobacco industry, and every effort should be made to enact them.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Tobacco Industry, Public Health Policy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.