In PUBLIC STATEMENTS, tobacco executives claim that they do not market to kids. INTERNAL tobacco-industry documents, however, tell a DIFFERENT story. These quotes show that TOBACCO ADS AFFECT TEENAGERS and that the tobacco companies consider TEENAGERS to be THEIR NEXT GENERATION OF CUSTOMERS!
(CAMPAIGN for TOBACCO-FREE KIDS)

READ THE COLLECTION OF QUOTES BELOW AND DECIDE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A TARGET FOR THEIR MONEY MAKING SCHEMES!!

READ IT IN THEIR VERY OWN WORDS!!!..........

- "Evidence is now available to indicate that the 14 to 18 year old group is an increasing segment of the smoking population. RJR-T (RJ Reynolds Tobacco)must soon establish a successful new brand in this market if our position in the industry is to be maintaained over the long term" (Planned Assumptions and Forecast for the Period 1977-1986 for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, "stamped secret," March 15, 1976)



- "Realistically, if our Company is to survive and prosper, over the long term, we must get our share of the youth market. In my opinion, this will require new brands tailored to the youth market." (Claude Teague, RJR, "Research Planning Memorandum on Some Thoughts About New Brands of Cigarettes fro the Youth Market," February 2, 1973)



- "I urge you to study the attached scroll list...for purposes of denoting stores that are heavily frequented by young adult shoppers. These stores can be in close proximity to colleges, high schools, or areas where there are a large number of young adults frequent the store [sic]." (J.P. McMahon, "Young Adult Market," memo to Philip Morris sales representatives, January 10, 1990)


- "For legal reasons, we have been unable to directly survey smokers under 18 years of age (as will be shown most smokers begin smoking regularly and select a usual brand at or before the age of 18..." (D.W. Tredennick, RJ Reynolds, July 3, 1974)


- "But it must also be true that influential young smokers...have made brand selections based on product characteristics or advertising and promotion communication." (D.W. Tredennick, RJ Reynolds, July 3 1974)


- "If it was legal to sell to "em, we'd be glad to. Bu it's not." (Walder Merryman, Tobacco Institute, WHCS-TV, Portland, Maine, August5, 1992, in a discussion about tobacco use among youth)

Source: CAMPAIGN for TOBACCO-FREE Kids