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Tobacco Industry News
Research
The changing marketing of smokeless tobacco in magazine advertisements
A recent study sought to determine how smokeless tobacco advertisements have changed over time, as comprehensive smoke-free air policies, concerns about secondhand smoke, and health concerns about cigarettes have become more widespread. Researchers performed a content analysis on 95 unique smokeless tobacco ads that appeared in 17 nationally circulated magazines from 1998–1999 and 2005–2006, and found significant differences between the ads from the two time periods. While the ads catered to men and other “traditional” smokeless tobacco users throughout the study period, a greater percentage of smokeless tobacco ads were found in 2005-2006, and the newer ads were more likely to appeal to women and others who may not already use smokeless tobacco. Click here to read the abstract of the research in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
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Reports
Tobacco cos. make payments under state settlement
In April, the largest tobacco companies in the U.S. made their annual payments as required by the 25-year Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). All three of the largest companies, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and Lorillard withheld part of their 2010 payments, placing the funds into a disputed payments escrow account. Tobacco companies are allowed to withhold funds under the agreement if they have lost market share to smaller companies that are not part of the MSA. Click here for more details. Related: Reynolds disputes $477 million of tobacco settlement payment Arbitration is underway for an adjustment in the settlement payments related to the big tobacco companies’ alleged loss of market share to smaller cigarette companies that are not part of the MSA. States have passed laws that aim to force these small companies to put money into escrow in the event they are sued by the states, and this dispute surrounds the extent to which the states are enforcing these laws. Read more here.
British American Tobacco's new tobacco-free nicotine: Nicoventures
British American Tobacco (BAT) has established a start-up company, Nicoventures Limited, that will focus on commercializing non-tobacco nicotine products that could be used to help smokers quit. BAT calls the move a “natural extension” of their approach of developing reduced harm products, while market analysts say that BAT is attempting to build a customer base that will compensate for declining tobacco sales. BAT has not yet revealed what the products will be or how they will work, but notes that they will be different from other nicotine products on the market, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine patches. Click here to read more, or read a press release from BAT.
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