Tobacco Industry News

Reports

Philip Morris CEO: Smoking "not that hard" to quit
In a recent press conference, Philip Morris International CEO Louis C. Camilleri claimed that cigarettes are “not that hard” to quit, prompting responses from several tobacco control advocates. The statement was made in response to a question from a nurse regarding the harmful nature of tobacco. Camilleri later clarified that cigarettes were addictive and harmful, and that Philip Morris had worked to tighten tobacco regulation. Anti-tobacco groups have called attention to the scientific inaccuracy of his statement, noting that the comment seems to be continuation of the tobacco industry’s history of downplaying the health risks and addictive nature of tobacco. Click here to read more, or read a statement from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Reynolds launches campaign to push smokeless product
As New York City’s new smoke-free regulations for outdoor areas went into effect in May, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. launched an aggressive campaign encouraging smokers to try the Camel Snus smokeless tobacco product. Ads will run in several local and national newspapers encouraging smokers to use Camel Snus in places where they cannot smoke. The campaign will also include point-of-sale advertising, communications with age-verified adult tobacco users, messages on packs, and an age-restricted website. The campaign is notable because Reynolds has not run ads in newspapers or consumer magazines in over three years. Health advocates condemn the campaign as an irresponsible attempt to market deadly and additive products, adding that the campaign completely opposes the public health goals of the smoke-free law. Click here for more information.

Cigarettes returning to NASCAR
E-cigarette manufacturer Green Smoke has announced that its Blu Cigs brand will be sponsoring T.J. Bell in this year’s running of the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest race, on May 29. This is the first-ever NASCAR sponsorship from the e-cigarette industry and the first tobacco-related sponsorship since 2004, when RJ Reynolds withdrew as a sponsor of NASCAR. Click here to read more, or read a press release from Green Smoke.

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