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Tobacco Industry Quotes
The Tobacco Industry has said some pretty outrageous things about teenagers and how they market to youth, but don't take our word for it...
"We don't smoke that s**t, we just sell it. We reserve that right for the young, the poor, the black and the stupid."
- R.J. Reynolds, as quoted in The Times of London, 02 August 1992
"[I]f our company is to strive and prosper, over the long term we must get our share of the youth market.... Thus we need new brands designed to be particularly attractive to the young smoker,"
- R.J. Reynolds, 1973 Bates No. 505101981-1992
"It is important to know as much as possible about teenage smoking patterns and attitudes. Today's teenager is tomorrow's potential regular customer..."
- Philip Morris, 1981 Bates No. 1000390803
“If you are really and truly not going to sell to children, you are going to be out of business in 30 years.”
- Bennett LeBow, CEO of Brook Group Ltd. makers of Lark and L&M cigarettes
“Younger adult smokers are the only source of replacement smokers...If younger adults turn away from smoking, the industry must decline”.
- R.J.Reynolds, February 29, 1984
"We will accept a no-smoking ‘policy' bill for elevators if you need to pass something."
- Philip Morris, 1987 Bates No. 2050864094-97
"We strongly oppose warning labels on cigarette packs for several reasons: first and foremost, warning labels may improperly imply that it has been scientifically established that smoking causes disease."
- R.J. Reynolds, South China Morning Post, January 1999
“[Brown & Williamson] will not support a youth smoking program which discourages young people from smoking.”
- Tobacco Institute Memo, 1983
"We have been asked by our client to come up with a package design... a
design that’s attractive to kids.”
- Letter from Lorillard’s (Newports) ad agency, 1970
Terrence Sullivan, a sales representative for R.J. Reynolds, says, "We were targeting kids, and I said at the time it was unethical and maybe illegal. But I was told it was just company policy." Sullivan remembers someone asking who exactly were the young people that R.J. Reynolds was targeting – junior high school kids or even younger? The reply was: "They got lips? We want them."
- R.J. Reynolds, 1990
Quoted in P.J. Hilt's Smokescreen - The Truth Behind the Tobacco Industry Cover-up, 1996
"We wonder whether such children [who display hyper kinetic behavior] may not eventually become cigarette smokers in their teenage years as they discover the advantage of self-stimulation via nicotine. We have already collaborated with a local school system in identifying some such children in the third grade."
- William Dunn, Phillip Morris, from a memo reporting on a company-sponsored study, June 10, 1974
"Smoking a cigarette for the beginner is a symbolic act… “I am no longer my mother’s child, I’m tough, I am an adventurer, I’m not square… As the force from the psychological symbolism subsides, the pharmacological effect takes over to sustain the habit."
- 1969 draft report “Why One Smokes” to the PM board of directors prepared by Osdene’s department. Document bates N. 1003287836.
"The ability to attract new smokers and develop them into a young adult franchise is key to brand development."
- 1999 Philip Morris report, “Five-Year Trends 1988-1992.” Bates No. 2044895379/484
“Cigarettes are no more addictive than gummi bears.”
- James Morgan, CEO Philip Morris Tobacco, 1997
“While we might not like our opponents, it would be foolish to underestimate them…they are clever.”
- John Dollisson, Phillip Morris Executive, 1990
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