Daily Doc: TI, Jan 29, 1991: The real reasons for 'youth programs'


Daily Doc: The real reasons for "youth programs"

Title: Discussion Paper
TI, Jan 29, 1991
Bates #: TIMN0164422/4424

May 4, 2000

This helpful document explains the real reason why the tobacco industry has (and widely promotes) "youth programs." Such programs
"...support The Institute's objective of discouraging unfair and counterproductive federal, state and local restrictions on cigarette advertising..."
They also have the purpose of
"Reinforcing the belief that peer pressure - not advertising - is the cause of youth smoking."
(underlining added)

But most importantly, enacting and promoting youth programs assist them in
"Seizing the political center and forcing the anti-smokers to an extreme... "
The "fairly simple" strategy of the Tobacco Institute, in its own words, is to
"Bait anti-tobacco forces to criticize industry efforts. Focus media attention on anti's extremism. Anticipate and blunt antis' strongest points."
and
"Work with the through credible child welfare professionals and educators to tackle the 'problem,' "
...Note how the word "problem" is contained in quotation marks, as though it is not being taken seriously.

Interestingly, nowhere in this document does it state that the purpose of their youth programs is to reduce youth smoking.

CITATION
Title: Discussion Paper
Type of Document: Report, confidential
Author: N/A (Tobacco Institute)
Date: 19910129
Site: Tobacco Institute document site http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/
Page Count 3
Bates No. TIMN0164422/4424 (and also other
Bates No. TIFL0526381/6383)
URL: http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=TIMN0164422/4424
QUOTES
The youth program and its individual parts support The Institute's objective of discouraging unfair and counterproductive federal, state and local restrictions on cigarette advertising by:

persuading on-going and persuasive evidence that the industry is actively discouraging youth smoking and independent verification that the industry's efforts are valid. Reinforcing the belief that peer pressure - not advertising - is the cause of youth smoking.

Seizing the political center and forcing the anti-smokers to an extreme...

also...

"The strategy is fairly simple:

1. Heavily promote industry opposition to youth smoking.

2. Align the industry with broader, more sophisticated view of the problem, i.e. parental inability to offset peer pressure.

3. Work with the through credible child welfare professionals and educators to tackle the "problem,"

4. Bait anti-tobacco forces to criticize industry efforts. Focus media attention on anti's extremism. Anticipate and blunt anti's strongest points..."

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Anne Landman, Regional Program Coordinator
American Lung Association of Colorado, West Region Office
Grand Junction, CO
(970) 245-2120
afoxland@gj.net
This document's URL is: http://www.tobacco.org/Documents/dd/ddrealreasons.html

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